Peter, who was arrested in the case by CBI in November last year, had approached the high court seeking bail after the sessions court rejected it. However, the high court had also turned down his bail plea on November 16.
Justice N W Sambre, in an eight-page order, refusing bail to Peter, also said, "It is really unbelievable that a stepfather has no concern for a daughter for almost three years as regards to her whereabouts."
"Even though the applicant (Peter) was out of the country at the relevant time, he was still in regular touch with the main accused Indrani everyday," the court said.
While refusing to accept Peter's contention that he was not against Sheena's relationship with his son Rahul, the court said, "The statement of Peter's adopted daughter Vidhie also speaks of disapproval of relationship between Sheena and Rahul by the applicant. The statement of other witnesses also point towards the involvement of the applicant to the crime in question," it said.
"Even though the applicant is a stepfather of the deceased and he claims to have supported the relationship of his son Rahul with Sheena, in such an eventuality the least that was expected of is the applicant, being the stepfather of Sheena and father of Rahul, should have tried to know her whereabouts," the order said.
In his bail plea, Peter had refuted CBI's contention that he and Indrani hatched the conspiracy to murder Sheena as they were against her relation with Rahul, Peter's son from his first marriage.
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