Daijiworld Media Network
Mumbai, Jul 3: "I know that I am innocent, and God knows I am innocent."
The words came from Maria Susairaj at a press conference, soon after she visited a church after being released from jail.
Susairaj, who was convicted for destroying evidence in the Neeraj Grover murder case, was awarded three years of imprisonment by the Mumbai court on , but as she had already served that term as an undertrial, she was allowed to walk free.
A relieved Susairaj told media persons that she had utmost sympathy for Grover's family as it was not easy to lose somebody in the family.
Her relationship with boyfriend Jerome had ended and she had nothing to do with him anymore, she said, and also clarified she and Grover too had nothing intimate between them.
"I have left my past behind, but I have not yet digested the fact that I have been convicted," she said, amid intense protest against her from Grover's family and others who are disappointed with the court's verdict to let her walk free. A protestor even tried to attack her, it is learnt.
Susairaj was driven off in a white Honda City which was allowed inside the premises of Byculla women's jail on the request of her lawyers. The mediapersons followed the car through Bandra-Worli Sea Link till St Michael's Church at Mahim.
"For three years I haven't seen the door of a church," Susairaj said, adding that she will let her family take decisions for her anymore.
About her experience in jail, she said that it had made her god-fearing and was a 'blessed' time.
She is expected to leave Mumbai on Monday July 4.