Peter Mukerjea’s interrogation by the CBI has indicated that the Mukerjea couple siphoned off Rs. 900 crore through their jointly-run media company 9X Media Private Limited, the agency told a magistrate’s court on Thursday while seeking Peter’s remand.
Indrani is also suspected to have opened an HSBC account in Sheena Bora’s name through a Singapore-based friend, where the misappropriated funds were allegedly parked.
Based on the submissions, the court remanded Peter to further CBI custody till November 30.
The CBI will take Peter back to Delhi for further investigation. Officials said it was felt that the financial aspects of the case, which stretch beyond Indian borders, would be better investigated in Delhi.
“A number of companies were formed and promoted by accused Peter and Indrani during 2006-2007 and in those companies around Rs. 900 crore is reported to have been invested,” states the CBI’s remand copy. It says there was reliable information that the company M/s 9X Media Private Limited, run by Peter and Indrani, carried out its internal audit which showed there were instances of misallocation and siphoning off of substantial amount of funds by Peter and Indrani in nine companies having share holding as on March 31, 2009.
“The report of Serious Fraud Investigation Office / IT and the CA documents substantiate [this],” the remand copy states. The CBI suspects that Indrani parked the siphoned funds in various accounts of Sheena. “Peter floated nine companies. There is a layering of money which comes to 9X Media. There is a huge transaction and siphoning off of money and this money might have gone to Singapore and various other places,” said Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the CBI.
“During the course of the investigation, Pritam [Peter] Mukerjea revealed that a bank account in the name of Sheena Bora (deceased) might have been opened in HSBC/other bank in Singapore / Hong Kong by accused Indrani Mukerjea,” the remand copy states. For this, Indrani roped in her friend Gayatri Ahuja, working in DBS bank Singapore, Mr. Singh said.
The CBI conducted forensic psychological test on Peter and a report is awaited.
‘Peter was a victim’Peter’s defence lawyer Mihir Gheewala said the agency was making vague references to financial transactions and did not submit any grounds to justify further remand. “Certain facts and figures have been given. There is no doubt that he was a successful businessman, highly respected and a pioneer in the television field,” he said.
He portrayed Peter as a victim of Indrani’s schemes. “Peter has come clean and has told the media that he is himself a victim of his wife[’s acts]. He trusted his wife, who told him that Sheena was alive and that Sheena was her sister. He had no reason to doubt her,” Mr. Gheewala said.
None of the witnesses in the CBI charge sheet, Vidhie, Rahul or Indrani’s secretary Kajal Sharma, referred to Peter’s role in any way.
Mr. Gheewala said the motive of financial transaction was at odds with the CBI’s stated motive that Indrani was insecure about Sheena getting close to the family and the possibility of her getting a share in property.
