Bombay high court admits Jerome’s plea against conviction

DNA Correspondent

The Bombay high court on Friday admitted dismissed naval officer Emile Jerome’s appeal challenging the 10-year sentence awarded to him for the murder of media professional Neeraj Grover and blaming Kannada actor Maria Susairaj for the offence.

The state government also informed the high court that it would appeal for enhancement of punishment for Susairaj.

On July 1, the sessions court convicted Jerome under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, while Susairaj was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment under the charge of destruction of evidence as she helped chop Grover's body and dispose them in Manor jungle.

But, as she had spent more time in jail as an undertrial, she was freed a day after the sentencing.

In his plea, Jerome blamed his fiancée Susairaj for killing Grover at her Malad home on May 7, 2008. “That motive, if any, was with Susairaj for committing the offence and not with him,” his lawyer said.

Jerome reiterated that the prosecution had not been able to ascertain the time of Grover's death and, so, it can not be ruled out that he was already dead when Jerome arrived in Mumbai.

Among other reasons cited by Jerome for proving his innocence, he said that Grover was at Susairaj's house from 11.30pm of May 6, 2008, and therefore, “the trial judge ought to have read the same as incriminating circumstances against her”.