A special CBI court here today rejected the bail application of former media baron Peter Mukerjea who has been arrested in connection with the Sheena Bora murder case.
"The bail is rejected," Special Judge H S Mahajan said while delivering the order in the court.
The judge said that the bail application has been rejected on the basis of certain facts in the case diary which cannot be disclosed to the defence lawyers.
Peter was arrested on November 19, 2015. His bail plea had been rejected once earlier in February this year following which he moved another plea before the court in March.
His lawyers had sought bail saying that Peter did not know anything about the murder of Sheena and he was not in the country at that time.
Rahul Mukerjea, Peter's son from previous marriage, and Sheena were in a relationship.
Peter's lawyers had also argued that he was not against the relationship between Sheena and Rahul.
However, CBI had earlier told the court that Indrani and Peter were unhappy with their relationship.
The central probe agency had argued that when Peter came to know that Sheena was Indrani's daughter, everything changed and it resulted in the murder.
CBI also told the court that at the time of disposal of the body, there was a conversation of 15 minutes between Indrani and Peter.
The prosecutor had also told the court that if Peter was on good terms with certain top police officials, then why didn't he help Rahul in finding Sheena after her disappearance.
Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyam Rai had allegedly strangled Sheena (24), Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, inside a car in April 2012. The crime, which came to light in August 2015, is allegedly linked to certain financial dealings.
The trio were arrested in August last year while Peter was arrested in November. According to CBI, Peter was part of the murder conspiracy.
While Peter (59), Khanna and Rai are lodged in Arthur Road prison, Indrani (43) is in Byculla womens' jail.
"Charge of forgery is only based on the statements of
Indrani's secretary Kajal Sharma," advocate Passbola said, adding that Sharma had said she forged the letter at Indrani's behest.
In that case, "why Sharma was not made an accused in the case" along with Indrani? Passbola asked.
"Conspiracy requires at least two persons and Indrani cannot be charged in isolation without Kajal," the lawyer said. Also, an accused cannot "conspire" with a witness (CBI has listed Sharma as a witness), he said.
The court adjourned the hearing to January 4 when lawyers of other accused may begin arguments.
Indrani Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyamvar Rai allegedly strangled Sheena (24), Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, inside a car here in April 2012. Indrani's husband and former media baron Peter Mukerjea too was party to the conspiracy, CBI has said.
Court pardoned Rai after he decided to become an approver in the case.
