A key accused in the Neeraj Grover murder case, moved the Bombay High Court seeking a copy of her confessional statement given to the magistrate
As Maria Monica Susayraj, a key accused in the Neeraj Grover murder case, moved the Bombay High Court seeking a copy of her confessional statement given to the magistrate, arguments ranged from why she was not given a copy to who gave it to the media.
Hearing the petition on Tuesday, Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice AA Kumbhakoni questioned, “You (police) give the confessional statement to the press but not to the accused?” They also said that the media was conducting the trial with the help of the police.
Susayraj’s advocate Niteen Pradhan argued that she was the author of the statement and she needed to know what exactly had been recorded by the magistrate so that she can correct herself at an earlier stage in the trial. “The statement was recorded in open court, therefore, it is a judicial proceeding,” Pradhan said. He argued further, “It is materially suppressing my (Susayraj’s) right to appear before the sessions judge.”
Public prosecutors Satish Borulkar and PS Hingorani, however, contended that the confessional statement cannot be given to the accused at this stage as the investigations are in progress.
The judges then sought the original copy of the confessional statement and said, “We were not eager to see what she (Susayraj) has said (in the confession statement), but we have already read this in the newspaper”. Pradhan also read out newspaper reports that stated the disclosures made in Susayraj’s confessional statement.
The judges said that they have all the reasons to believe that the police had given the confessional statement to the press. “The media is conducting the trial with the help of the police,” Justice Nazki remarked.
Susayraj’s application states that as an accused, she is liable for a copy of the confessional statement under the provisions of the Evidence Act, the Criminal procedure Code and the Constitution of India.
Borulkar, however, said that the 90-day period to file the chargesheet will be up on August 18 and there is no provision in law to provide the accused with a copy of the confessional statement prior to the filing of the chargesheet. The arguments will continue before the court on Wednesday.
Susayraj, 27, and her boyfriend navy lieutenant Emile Jerome are accused of killing Neeraj Grover, 25, creative head of a company, on May 7. They were arrested on May 21 for their alleged roles in planning and executing Grover’s murder. Grover was allegedly stabbed to death. His body was later chopped into may parts and burnt. Susayraj who was produced before the magistrate on May 21, gave her confessional statement on May 27.
On June 17, Pradhan had pressed for a copy of her statement before the sessions court. However, after sessions court rejected this plea, Susayraj moved the high court.
j_mayura@dnaindia.net
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}