03 July,2011 06:28 AM IST | | Vinod Kumar Menon
All set to leave Byculla jail, a relaxed Maria Susairaj asked staffers to forgive misbehaviour during her stay; 30 km away, convicted in the Neeraj Grover murder case, fiance Emile Jerome said he was innocent, but remained tense
ON SATURDAY, prison staff at the Byculla women's jail were glued to their television set, hoping to get a glimpse of convicted prisoner and Kanna actress Maria Susairaj, who was released after spending three years and 41 days in their prison. This, although cable TV is not available to inmates.
Chased by the media after her release from Byculla Jail on Saturday, Maria Susairaj went to St Michael's Church in Mahim accompanied by her brother, where she dissolved into tears as she prayed. pic/ Sayed Sameer Abedi
They weren't the only ones. Since morning, a battery of mediapersons, curious onlookers and policemen were spotted waiting outside the jail for Susairaj, who finally stepped out a little past 10.30 am.
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Sentenced to three-year imprisonment in the 2008 murder of TV executive Neeraj Grover, yesterday she walked free as she had already spent the term behind the bars.
According to jail Superintendent S Y Karnik, Susairaj spoke to some jail staffers before leaving, saying, "Please forgive me if I have committed any mistake during my stay."
Karnik recalls, "On Friday, Maria came to the jail around 8.30 pm from the Sessions court, (she had to complete legal formalities including arranging a fine of Rs 50,000) and went straight to her barrack."
While in the past, Susairaj would return from court looking worried, on Friday evening, her relaxed demeanour made it obvious to jail authorities that things were going well.
After dinner, she was seen speaking to other undertrials inside the ground floor barrack, and went to sleep at 11.30 pm.
She kept her bags packed before that. According to jail officials, Susairaj told them, 'I am innocent and God is with me. It (being convicted) is a stigma and I will challenge it in the High Court'. They say she was also unsure about her future.
"On Saturday, as per our rules, Maria woke up at 6 am and was given breakfast (banana, upma and milk) at 7 am. We were aware of her release, so she was given lunch at 10 am," said Karnik.
She added, 'All her belongings, including valuables (earrings etc.) and cash received from her family through money order for her canteen expenses during her stay in jail, were handed over to her.
Meanwhile, fiance Emile Jerome lodged around 30 kilometers from Byculla Jail, remained worried about his fate, said officials.
According to S B Chaware, Superintendent,u00a0 Taloja jail, "Jerome arrived at 9.30 pm and spent most of his time inside barrack no 12, circle 5. He kept to himself and did not mingle with the others."
Chaware said, "I spoke to him during my rounds. He told me he was innocent and would challenge the verdict in High Court."
Jerome will continue to stay in Taloja prison until July 7, when he will be produced in court to collect a copy of the judgment.
Only on receiving the court order will he be officially shifted from Taloja to Kolhapur Central jail, where Jerome will spend the rest of his 10-year term period as a convicted prisoner.
When asked if Jerome will be asked to carry out manual labour in Taloja until then, like all convicted prisoners, Chaware said the jail committee would hold a meeting on Monday to decide on the same.
