Soon after she was awarded a maximum three years' imprisonment which was already served during the trial, the Kannada actress Maria Susairaj could walk free. Emile Jerome, her boyfriend and former Navy officer, got a 10-year jail term in the macabre murder of Neeraj Grover.
The Sessions court judge, N.W. Chadwani while pronouncing the quantum of sentence a day after pardoning Maria (30) and Jerome(28) of murder charge, ordered both to together pay a fine of Rs. 1,50,000 to the victim's father.
Since they have already been in jail for three years as under trials, Maria can walk free anytime and Jerome will have to be behind bars only for seven more years.
While pronouncing the sentence to Jerome, who was held guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder under sec.304 IPC, it was stated by N.W. Chadwani that, giving him ten years would serve justice.
For causing disappearance of evidence under a Sec.201 IPC, Jerome was also sentenced 3 years of imprisonment and both these sentence would run concurrently.
A three year jail term was awarded by judge to Maria, a model and struggling actress who was also held guilty of trying to destroy evidence.
For the offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, Jerome was ordered to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000 and an equal amount for causing the disappearance of evidence. For hiding the evidence, Maria was also fined with an amount of Rs. 50,000.
According to Neeraj's grieving father, Amarnath Grover, both Maria and Jerome are equally responsible for the murder.
The Public Prosecutor R.V. Kini, during the arguments, sought life term for Jerome, whereas, Jerome,s counsel Wahab Khan pleaded a minimum sentence considering the fact that he was not a habitual offender.
Kini also sought seven years imprisonment for Maria by calling her an active player in the crime. and at one stage he even said that the crime warranted capital punishment.
It was contended by Sharif Sheikh, Maria's counsel, that she had already served three years in jail as provided under Sec.201 of IPC, and it would be like illegal confinement if she is kept in jail for more days.
Considering her younger age and maintaining that she was not a habitual offender, Sheikh pleaded for lighter sentence to her.
Both the accused had been charged by the prosecution with murder, criminal conspiracy, common intention and causing disappearance of evidence.
News reported by News Vision - Online News Paper
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