HC admits state’s appeal challenging murder acquittals

The government has challenged the July 1 order of the Sessions Court that acquitted both Susairaj and Jerome under Section 302 (punishment for murder) and held Jerome guilty under Section 304 (1) of the IPC for committing culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Susairaj was convicted only for destruction of evidence. While Jerome was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment,Susairaj was handed out a three-year jail term.

The government’s appeal is likely to be heard along with the separate appeals filed by Susairaj and Jerome challenging their conviction. More said they will also try to obtain the court’s permission to hear Jerome’s application for bail during the pendency of his appeal in the HC,along with the three appeals filed in court.

Attributing motive to Susairaj,the state government had stated in its appeal that she felt “cheated” by Grover,who she thought was “bluffing” her under the pretext of getting her a role in a TV serial. Stating that the killing of Grover was “deliberate and calculated”,the government contended that as per the telephone records gathered by the prosecution,Jerome left Kochi after he received a call from Susairaj made from Grover’s cellphone on May 6,2008.