MARIA SUSAIRAJ

MARIA SUSAIRAJ - Film Actress

Maria Monica Susairaj - Was born and brought up at Bannimantap in Mysore. She ventured into Kannada movies with Joot. She also acted in Excuse Me, Ok Saar Ok and Ekadanta.

She wanted to try her chance in Bollywood, Mumbai. Howver, her parents had opposed her going to Mumbai to make a career in films. But braving all opposition, she left for Mumbai.

Maria Susairaj was a new and small-time South film actress and Lieutenant M.L. Jerome Mathew was her boyfriend. Both were said to be getting engaged two months later. Neeraj Grover was helping Susairaj to establish a foothold in the television industry and had also arranged few auditions for her. Susairaj had once told Mathew that Grover had crush on her but she did not reciprocate. She had reportedly also stayed at Grover's apartment for a few days. At the time of the incident, Susairaj was shifting into her new rented apartment and Grover was helping her with the shifting. 

On the 6th of May, 2008, Grover reportedly went to meet Susairaj and was never found again. When his friends and family could not trace him for over 24 hours, his family filed a missing person's report. Grover’s family told police that they suspected involvement of his female friend in his disappearance. 

Susairaj, when questioned by police claimed that though Grover had met her on Tuesday night, he left at 12 A.M. to meet some friends for a party in Andheri. As per various media reports, and as stated by the police, Susairaj continued fabricating stories for 10 days, until she eventually told the police that Mathew had killed Grover in her presence.

Grover visited Susairaj's Malad apartment Dhiraj Solitaire at 22:00 on the 6th of May to help her settle in. At the same time, Mathew called her up and got upset to hear a male voice in background. When Susairaj told Mathew that Grover had come over to help her, Jerome asked Maria not to allow Neeraj to stay overnight. Mathew at that time was living in Kochi. However, he took a flight and came to Mumbai the next day without telling Susairaj. He reached her apartment at 07:30. Susairaj opened the door and Mathew went straight into the bedroom to find Grover naked in the room. As per media and police reports, the two men had argument and then engaged in a physical fight. Mathew grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed Grover, who died on the spot.

They both then took the dead body to the kitchen and chopped it into several pieces, stuffing them into the bags Susairaj had earlier bought. Susairaj borrowed a car from her friend and dumped the bags in the vehicle's boot whilst the building security guard watched them load the car. At 16:30 the same day, they drove towards Manor after buying two bottles of Petrol at Bhayander. They soaked the bags in petrol and set it on fire in a jungle near Amgaon village in Manor. After burning the dead body, they returned to Mumbai the same night at 21:30.

Police later brought the car, car owner & witnesses to the police station where Susairaj broke down and gave her version of the crime, up to and including the disposal of the body. She was arrested and sent to Jail along with  Mathew.

After the trail, the verdict found Susairaj not guilty of the killing, but guilty of destroying evidence and was sentenced to a maximum three years' imprisonment. She was released the following day with time served. 

Jerome Mathew was found guilty of culpable homicide not amounting murder and of destroying evidence. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the killing, and 3 years for destroying evidence. The sentences will be served concurrently, with 3 years time served already applied. 

The court has also fined Susairaj and Mathew Rs. 50,000, to be paid to Neeraj Grover's family.

She has a brother Richard and are said to be living in Wilson Garden, Bangalore.