Susairaj then called a choreographer friend and on some pretext, borrowed his Hyundai Santro. Mathew and Susairaj went to the friend’s house in an autorickshaw and returned in the car after picking up petrol in a jerry-can. After reaching home, they carried the three bags down by lift, and loaded them into the car. Susairaj introduced Mathew as her friend to the building watchman.

“While training on the INS Shivaji at Lonavla, Mathew had made several trips from Mumbai to Daman and Diu in the past and knew of several isolated forested areas on the way. Mathew and Susairaj drove around for about three hours before finding an isolated spot in Manor, Thane (Rural). They dumped the bags there, doused them with petrol and burnt them,” said Maria.

In the evening, when Grover’s friends landed up at Susairaj’s house, looking for him, she told them that he had left. She gave them his mobile phone, saying Grover had forgotten to take it. She then accompanied Grover’s friends to Malad police station to report him missing. The next day, Susairaj got her entire flat repainted. When Mathew and Susairaj were called to the Malad police station that day, Mathew told them that he was in the city for a training exercise. By then, Naval authorities in Kochi had declared him missing.

“On May 12, Susaira and four friends came to my office. They asked me for help in tracking Grover. After they introduced themselves, I told Susaira that she had nearly ended my search as my prime suspect was sitting in front of me. Although she denied her role initially, she eventually broke down and told us everything,” said Maria.

... contd.