Sheena Bora murder case: Peter Mukherjea granted 6 week stay on bail to allow appeal of CBI by Bombay

Sheena Bora murder case: Peter Mukherjea granted 6 week stay on bail to allow appeal of CBI by Bombay

On Thursday, the Peter Mukerjea granted bail by Bombay High Court who is the former CEO of Star India on the surety of Rs. 2 lakh. But on CBI request court has stayed the operation of the bail order to allow CBI appeal before Apex Court.Mukherjea has been directed to deposit his passport and not to travel abroad without seeking permission.

Mukherjea was arrested in November 2015 for his alleged involvement in the murder of Sheena Bora, his wife Indrani’s daughter from a previous marriage. There was a charge upon him to involve in conspiracy regarding murder with his wife’s driver named Shyamvar Pinturam Rai and with his wife’s former husband named Sanjeev khanna.

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Justice Nitin W Sambre allowed Peter Mukherjea Bail plea, as there is no prima facie evidence is found to prove his involvement in alleging murder and hence, there is no reference made of his name on any statement.

Advocate Shrikant Shivade appeared on behalf of Mukherjea and argued that his client had no role to play in the murder, instead his wife Indrani Mukerjea and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna are the co-accused. In a case of conspiracy and murder, the conviction cannot be based on suspicion, Shivade submitted. Other factors taken into account that Peter Mukherjea was not in country when crime took place.

On the other hand, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh appeared for the CBI and opposed Mukerjea’s plea. He submitted that after referring to the charge sheet and statements of witnesses along with the call data records which showed several calls between him and his wife Indrani before, during and after the alleged incident.

After examining the facts of the case, Court observed that the evidence on record does not show prima facie proof of his direct involvement in the murder. Furthermore, it was noted that on the day of the crime in April 2012, it was Indrani Mukherjea who was giving all the instructions to Shyamvar Rai, her driver who was a co-accused in the case and later turned approver in the case. This was reflected in the call data records of the accused. 24-year-old Sheena Bora was Indrani’s daughter with her former partner Siddhartha Das. Sheena was allegedly in a live-in relationship with Rahul Mukherjea, Peter’s son. Although she was killed on April 24, 2015, Sheena’s body was found in Pen, Raigad district on May 23, 2012, almost a month later.

Hence, Bombay HC granted bail to Peter Mukherjea on the surety of Rs. 2 lakh with seizing of his passport and furthermore not allow him to contact his children and any witness of the case until further orders. Moreover, he is restricted for asking for an adjournment in the ongoing trial in the murder case before special court.