Almost five years after the murder of 24-year-old Sheena Bora, a special CBI court charged her mother Indrani Mukerjea, media executive Peter Mukerjea and Indrani’s first husband Sanjeev Khanna with murder, kidnapping and criminal conspiracy on Tuesday.
All three were charged under IPC Sections 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), 364 (kidnapping), 302 (murder), 203 (giving false information in respect of an offence) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence). Additionally, Indrani and Sanjeev were charged under Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 120(b) (conspiracy) for plotting to kill her son and Sheena’s brother Mikhail Bora.
Later in the day, Indrani expressed her wish to obtain a divorce from Peter, to which the judge said it was a matter to be decided between them and the court had nothing to do with it.
The court also charged them under Sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) and 203 (giving false information respecting an offence committed).
In the order, the court said it had gone through emails, call records and SMSs while framing the charges.
All the three accused pleaded “not guilty.”
Later in the day, Indrani expressed her wish to obtain a divorce from Peter, to which the judge said it was a matter to be decided between them and the court had nothing to do with it.
The court also charged them under Sections 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender) and 203 (giving false information respecting an offence committed).
Judge H.S. Mahajan adjourned the case to February 1 when the trial is likely to commence. The fourth accused, driver Shyamvar Rai has turned approver in the case.
While charges were filed during the morning session of the court, in the lunch recess, Indrani made an oral plea seeking permission from the special court to move the family court in suburban Bandra to initiate divorce proceedings against Peter.
She also orally informed the judge that she would like to change her ‘Will’ to donate her share in the family property to charitable organisations.
Judge Mahajan told her that she did not need the special court’s permission to file a divorce case or change her Will and was free to take such decisions on her own. Peter Mukerjea who was also present in court as charges were framed against him did not talk to Indrani.
(With inputs from PTI)
