After shifting to Mumbai from Kanpur in January 2007, he worked with two firms before getting a call from Balaji Productions, where he was co-producer in a few serials. Weeks before the murder, he joined Synergy Adlabs, where he was the assistant creative head of the Shah Rukh Khan show, Kya Aap Panchvi Pass Se Tez Hai.

Crime Branch officers say Susairaj befriended Grover and the two started “seeing each other”. “She approached Grover with her portfolio, and the two got intimate through SMSes and meeting at coffee shops. Enquiries have revealed that Grover had promised her a role in Mahabharat, a new tele-serial. He had told his friends that he was in love with Susairaj. However, when we interrogated her, Susairaj claimed that it was a purely one-sided affair,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria.

On the night of May 6, Grover landed up at Dheeraj Solitaire Building in Malad (West), where Susairaj was shifting into a one-bedroom rented flat that day. He said he would help her move her belongings. While the two were chatting, Susairaj is said to have received a call on her mobile phone from Mathew, who overheard Grover asking her, “Is that your boyfriend?”

Mathew and Susairaj had known each other from their schooldays in St. Matthias School in Mysore. Their friends say they find it hard to believe that Mathew, who was only last year felicitated by former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and Susairaj, with a bright future in dancing and acting, could be accused of such a crime. Susairaj’s family, who are builders, are known to be influential in Mysore but have locked their house to rush to Mumbai. Her uncle, Shantu Nessun, was elected a municipal corporator just six months ago.

... contd.