Maria Susairaj's lawyers withdraw from case

Susairaj's lawyers Sudeep Pasbola and Acharya Murthy told the sessions court on Monday that they were 'greatly disturbed' by the allegation that they had threatened a witness Usha Ramalu to not testify in the case.

The police had arrested one Raju Wankhede on Saturday for allegedly threatening Ramalu with dire consequences if she deposes in court. Wankhede was allegedly acting at the behest of Murthy and another defence lawyer Raja Thakur.

Ramalu had deposed that the prime accused and Kannada actress Maria Susairaj had led the police to the spot where she and her naval officer fiance, Emile Jerome Mathew, disposed the body of television producer Neeraj Grover on May 7 2008.

According to the prosecution, Susairaj and Mathew had allegedly stabbed Grover to death after an altercation at Susairaj's residence. The duo then burnt the body at the Mano jungles in the outskirts of the city.