A special Central Bureau of Investigation court on Tuesday charged Indrani Mukerjea, her husband Peter Mukerjea, and her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna, with murder and criminal conspiracy.
The court heard arguments of the three accused for framing charges against them.
Indrani, Sanjeev, and their driver Shyamvar Rai, are accused of strangling 24-year-old Sheena Bora on 24 April 2012. Her burnt body was then dumped in a bag in a forest of Raigad district near Mumbai.
‘Financial Dispute Led to Murder’
Indrani’s driver and co-accused Rai turned approver and had reportedly given details to CBI of how the crime was committed.
The trio was arrested in August 2015, while Peter was arrested on 19 November 2015.
The CBI’s chargesheet claims that the murder was the fallout of a financial dispute in the family.
Sheena’s relationship with Rahul – Peter's son from an earlier marriage – had reportedly led to fears within the family that she would gain control of a major portion of the wealth after marriage.
The trial will begin from 1 February.
All three accused were charged under IPC sections 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), 364 (kidnapping), 302 (murder), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 203 (giving false information in respect of an offence) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence).
Additionally, Indrani and Sanjeev were charged under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) for plotting to kill her son and Sheena’s brother, Mikhail Bora.
“Evidence Is Lacking Against Peter,” Says Rahul
After the framing of charges against the three accused, Peter’s son Rahul Mukerjea again stepped in to defend his father.
According to a NewsX report, Rahul said that the “evidence is lacking against Peter”.
He said that he is “disappointed and is waiting for the trial to begin”.
He also wants the emails and conversations, which have been taken into consideration by the CBI, to be looked at in the “correct context”.
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