Neeraj Pal | |
---|---|
Born |
Kishni |
23 February 1982
Disappeared | May 7, 2008 (aged 26) Malad, Mumbai |
Died | 7 May 2008 Bombay |
(aged 26)
Cause of death | Homicide |
Body discovered | Amgaon village in Manor, Maharashtra |
Resting place | Mumbai |
Residence | Mumbai |
Citizenship | India |
Education | Degree in Mass Communication |
Alma mater | Amity University |
Occupation | TVexecutive |
Employer | Synergy Adlabs |
Known for | Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? |
Notable work | Kya Aap Paanchvi Pass Se Tez Hain? |
Home town | Kanpur |
Parent(s) | Amarnath Grover and Neelam Grover |
Neeraj Grover was a television executive working for Synergy Adlabs, a Mumbai based production house. He was found dead in May 2008; a crime for which actress Maria Susairaj and her boyfriend Lieutenant M.L. Jerome Mathew were arrested. Mathew was eventually found guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and for destroying evidence. Susairaj was acquitted of the killing itself, but found guilty of destroying evidence. The killing and subsequent trial received significant press coverage in India.
Maria Susairaj was a new and small-time South Indian film actress and Lieutenant Emil 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 a 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 6 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 6 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 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.