M A I N   N E W S

Verdict in Grover case sparks protest
Shiv Kumar/TNS

Mumbai, July 3
Personalities from the film and television industries held a protest march in suburban Mumbai today morning to demand a retrial in the Neeraj Grover murder case. Emile Jerome Mathew, who stabbed Grover in a crime of passion more than three years ago, was found guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment while actress Maria Susiraj, who was found guilty of destroying evidence, was released having spent the three years of her sentence in jail during the trial.

The protesters led by tinsel town personalities including actor Raza Murad, film-maker Ashok Pandit and others began their march at the building in suburban Malad where Grover was done to death. The marchers, numbering around 20 who were to march to Juhu, were picked up by the police and taken to Bangur Nagar police station.

They were held for a while as they did not have the requisite permissions, according to the police. However, they were allowed to resume their march after local MP Sanjay Nirupam intervened.

Bearing placards denouncing Maria Susairaj and Emile Jerome, the protesters vowed to see that justice was ensured to Neeraj Grover and his family. “A young man is brutally murdered and his killers have been left free.... is it not a murder of democracy?” asked actor Raza Murad.