Susairaj confession recorded

In an important development in the sensational Neeraj Grover murder case that could strengthen the Mumbai Police Crime Branch8217;s case...

In an important development in the sensational Neeraj Grover murder case that could strengthen the Mumbai Police Crime Branch8217;s case against arrested accused Kannada movie actress Mariah Monica Susairaj 27and her Naval officer boyfriend Emile Jerome Mathew 25, the first part of a confessional statement given by Mariah was recorded before a magistrate on Tuesday. According to Crime Branch officials, Mariah expressed a desire to give her confession on Sunday night, following which the police filed an application in court on Monday.

8220;On Sunday, Mariah expressed her desire to us that she wanted to give a confessional statement in court. The next day, we filed an application in court for the same purpose. From police custody, she was taken into judicial custody today, and a part of her confessional statement was recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code before a magistrate,8221; said Joint Commissioner of Police Crime Rakesh Maria.

The confession was recorded before a chief metropolitan magistrate.

8220;Such a confession will bolster our case. One part of her confession was recorded today, and another part will be recorded either tomorrow or the day after depending on what the court decides. In this case, we want to file a chargesheet within 30 days and not 90, so that the case can come up for hearing faster,8221; said Maria.

Susairaj and Mathew were arrested on May 21, for their alleged roles in the murder of Grover 25, who was a top executive at Synergy Adlabs and a former creative head at Balaji Telefilms. According to the police, Mathew stabbed Grover and then cut his body into small pieces that were placed by Susairaj in three bags.

The duo drove to Manor in Thane Rural carrying the bags, and after reaching an isolated spot there, poured petrol on the bags and set them on fire.

While the Crime Branch has managed to recover the bread knife with which Mathew allegedly cut Grover8217;s body into pieces, they have not been able to trace the kitchen knife with which he allegedly stabbed him.

8220;We are still on the lookout for the kitchen knife with which Grover was stabbed. Mathew claims that he had placed it, along with the bread knife in one of the three bags that were burnt in Manor. We have recovered the bread knife, but are still on the lookout for the knife with which Mathew stabbed Grover.

Story continues below this ad

Since the post mortem report has not ascertained the exact time of Grover8217;s death, we do not yet know which of the two knives is the actual murder weapon, and both will be regarded as such.

All evidence that can be collected, included the murder weapon, bears weight in such cases,8221; said Deputy Commissioner of Police Detection Deven Bharti.