In a new twist to the sensational case relating to the murder of TV executive Neeraj Grover, the police on Friday claimed that the killing was pre-meditated by Kannada film actress Marrayya Monica Susayraj and her naval officer boyfriend M L Jerome Mathew.

The police had earlier claimed that Grover's killing was a spontaneous act and the new disclosure came after police got hold of mobile phone records of Grover, Mathew and Susayraj, which suggested that the act was pre-meditated, a top police official said.

"We got the call records on Thursday. It was a pre-meditated murder and we have already applied section 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy) in the case," Joint Commissioner of
Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria said.

About the possible motive for the murder, Maria said, "May be Mathew was angry because Grover had not delivered in getting Susayraj a role in any project."

Grover, a creative head with TV production house Synergy Adlabs [Get Quote], was stabbed to death allegedly by Mathew inside Susayraj's apartment in suburban Malad on May 7, over a suspected love triangle.

Susayraj and Mathew allegedly chopped Grover's body to several pieces, put the parts in three bags and then disposed it of by burning it at Manor in the neighbouring Thane district.