"Both, Peter and Indrani were unhappy with the relationship between Rahul and Sheena," Additional Solicitor General of India Anil Singh told the special CBI judge H S Mahajan, while opposing Peter's bail application.
Sheena, Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, and Rahul, Peter's son from his earlier marriage, were in a relationship and at one point in time, they used to stay together in a rented flat in Mumbai.
Sheena (24) was allegedly murdered by Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and ex-driver Shyamvar Rai, on April 24, 2012. She was allegedly strangled in a car and her body burnt and dumped in a forest in Raigad, about 84 kms from Mumbai.
"Before April 23, 2012, both Indrani and Peter were in England. When Indrani came to India on April 23, she had immediately messaged Peter. Even after reaching the spot in Raigad district, where Sheena's body was burnt and disposed of, she had called Peter," Singh said.
"Around 2.30 am on the intervening night of April 24 and 25 (2012), Peter and Indrani spoke for around 15-20 minutes," Singh said.
On April 26, Peter came back to India and he, along with Indrani, went to Goa on April 28, he said, adding that an attempt was made by both of them to access the e-mail account of Sheena.
Singh also said that after Sheena's disappearance Peter's servant told him that Rahul had come home enquiring about her. Peter told him, "Don't worry, Indrani has separated Sheena from Rahul."
"Sheena was a family member and Peter was in touch with Rahul and Sheena, but when she went missing, Peter did not make any efforts to trace her," Singh argued.
"It was only after Indrani's driver Shyam Rai was
arrested, the case came to light, but from the day when Sheena went missing in April 2012 till the time of Rai's arrest, despite requests made by Rahul, Peter did not make any attempt to find out Sheena," Additional Solicitor General Singh said.
"Peter is part of the conspiracy and was aware about everything," Singh said, adding if he is let out on bail, he might tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses.
The ASG said the charges against Peter was serious.
"Entire planning had been done and strategy worked out and it was done in such a way that for three years, nothing came out," Singh said.
We have material in the form of call records, e-mails, confessions, statements of witnesses to suggest complicity of Peter and the CBI will file the chargesheet against him and come before the court with evidence, Singh told the court.
"CBI is only saying that Peter had knowledge of the crime post April 24," Desai said.
He also said there was not even a prima facie case against Peter, adding that the CBI doesn't have any material that transcends from knowledge, intention to agreement.
"Peter was not against the relationship between them," he said.
"There is nothing about Peter that shows that he has role in planning, what the CBI is trying to show is that phone call between Peter and Indrani took place in relation to the murder," Desai argued and added that CBI does not have any transcript.
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