Mumbai:
Amarnath Grover spent Thursday afternoon glued to the television in his small home in Kanpur. And when the news broke, it was not what he'd been waiting for.
His son, Neeraj was a promising, young TV executive working in Mumbai. (
Read: Who was Neeraj Grover?)
Three years after Neeraj was murdered in an actress' flat in a Mumbai suburb, the actress and her former fiance had both been found guilty. But not of murder. (
In pics: Maria Susairaj not guilty of murder)
The couple was arrested in 2008 after Neeraj was killed - his body had been chopped into pieces, and transported to another suburb in gunny bags, where the corpse was set on fire.
The judge accepted that Jerome Mathew had killed Neeraj in a fit of jealousy after finding him at Maria Susairaj's flat. But it was not pre-planned murder, and so Mr Mathew was indicted for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and of destroying evidence. Ms Susairaj, the court said, had been proven guilty of destruction of evidence.
"If this is justice, it is worthless...I don't have trust on such a judiciary that didn't go by facts. It is all a matter of interpretation...Look at the telephone records. Maria had called him over to his house...I spoke to him till then...where was he? He left from Maria's house," said Amarnath Grover. (
Watch: Verdict very disappointing, says Neeraj Grover's father)
The verdict of the Sessions Court, that has been hearing this sensational case for over two years now, has come as a huge setback to the police and prosecution.
"Even I am shocked by the verdict. Certainly we will go into an appeal," said RV Kini, Public Prosecutor.
The judge said, "The killing took place on the spur of the moment. Obviously any man who finds his fiancé with another man will get upset and lose control." (
Read: Neeraj Grover verdict - Judges' observation)
What seemed to have helped Mr Mathew and Ms Susairaj is that the prosecution was able to provide only circumstantial evidence and could not conclusively prove that the couple had conspired to kill Mr Grover. It was also unable to establish a motive for murder for Ms Susairaj.
The Mumbai sessions court is likely to declare the quantum of punishment today.
Ms Susairaj faces a maximum term of three years, which she has already served: She could walk free today. (
Watch: Happy with the verdict, says Maria Susairaj's lawyer)
Jerome will not face a death sentence, but could get between 10 years to a life term.