Mumbai:
The air was thick with anticipation as members of the media jostled for space in a packed room to hear Maria Susairaj speak for the first time after her release from jail today. As the din grew louder, a subdued Maria said, "I can only say I am innocent and my God knows that."
The 30-year-old Kannada actress, who has been under intense media glare ever since she was accused of being involved in the death of TV executive
Neeraj Grover in 2008, chose a press conference to express her side of the story. This after she walked free today after spending three years in jail.
Initially reluctant to speak, all that Ms Susairaj said was a brief "I don't want to comment on the case and Neeraj".
She let her lawyer, Shaikh M Sharif, do the major part of the talking. Claiming that his client was innocent, Mr Sharif said that Neeraj's body was not hacked into 300 pieces as claimed by the police and the media. Holding out a photograph of the remains of Neeraj's limbs, he claimed that the deceased's body had been cut into 4-5 parts.
(In Pics: The night of Neeraj Grover's murder)He further said that they were going to challenge the sentence handed out to Maria by the trial court.
Maria Susairaj was convicted under Section 201 of the IPC for destruction of evidence in the
Neeraj Grover case. She was handed a three-year imprisonment but walked free as she had already spent three years in jail.
Her former fiancé, Emile Jerome Mathew, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing Neeraj. And three years for destroying evidence.
(Read: Neeraj Grover sentence - Maria will leave jail, 7 more years for Jerome)But even as Maria's lawyer spoke on the case, Neeraj Grover's friends stormed into the press conference, chanting slogans against her. They were later detained by the police.
(Watch: Neeraj's friends outraged, plan protest march) |
(Watch: Maria was using Neeraj, say his friends)
As the drama unfolded, Ms Susairaj slowly started to speak. Striking an emotional note, she said, "Fact is I am convicted...it is a stigma...I've spent 3 years 41 days in jail", Ms Susairaj said.
Recollecting the time spent in jail, Maria Susairaj said, "As I got closer to God, I did a lot of painting, prayer meets."
She also said that she had left her past behind but hadn't decided about her future.
"I have nothing to decide for myself...my family will decide", she said.
Meanwhile, her lawyer trashed all reports of Ms Susairaj taking up film and TV offers.
(Read:Movie, TV offers for just-released Maria) With speculation rife about Ram Gopal Varma having offered her his next film, Mr Sharif said, "There is no question of signing RGV's film...Maria will go back home...will not work in any serial, movie".
When asked if she was still close to Jerome, she replied in the negative.
"I am here with you. How can I be close to him," she said. On whether they were still "just friends", she shot back with a terse "no".
Earlier in the day, Ms Susairaj headed straight to the Mahim church after being released from the Byculla jail.
(Read:Maria Susairaj released from jail) Accompanied by her brother, Maria initially appeared calm but later broke down.
(Watch) Talking about her visit, Ms Susairaj said, "It was my duty (going to church to thank god) because of whom I'm out".
But in the midst of the barrage of questions, Maria Susairaj did not forget to make a mention about Neeraj Grover's family. Aware of the massive public outrage against her as well as the verdict, she said, "I sympathise with them...losing someone in the family isn't easy."
(Read: Neeraj Grover verdict - No justice, say many)As Maria pleaded innocence, the event was being watched closely by a devastated Grover family at their home in Kanpur.
Still grieving their son's loss and feeling betrayed by the verdict, Neeraj's father Amarnath Grover said, "If she was innocent, she would have explained herself. Why was she so quiet?"
The broken, elderly man had earlier said that he did not have the energy or resources to take his fight further.
But, the father still hopes that he will get justice for his son someday.