Cops plan narco-tests on Indrani, Khanna
1 Sept 2015 5:46 AM IST
The Mumbai Police, probing the sensational Sheena Bora murder case, may subject Indrani Mukerjea and her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna to a narco-analysis test.
Indrani, the victim’s mother and wife of former media baron Peter Mukherjea, had initially admitted that she killed Sheena in the car, but later said she was in the US. When the police interrogated her in the presence of Khanna, she said he strangled Sheena. But Khanna blamed Indrani, claiming he was asleep in the car.
A police officer said, “They have been changing their statements and are giving evasive replies. Investigators may file an application before the court seeking permission to subject the accused to narco, <g data-gr-id="25">brain-mapping</g> and lie detector tests.”
There was also a buzz that the mystery caller, who had blown the lid off Indrani’s cover-up, was her first husband Sidhartha Das. Police, however, refused confirm this.
Earlier in the morning, a Mumbai Metropolitan court on Monday extended the police custody of Indrani Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyam Rai till September 5.
Indrani fainted inside the courtroom after seeing her daughter <g data-gr-id="32">Vidhie</g>, who broke down on seeing her mother as an accused surrounded with female cops inside the court. All three accused were driven to the Khar police station.
Before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate S M <g data-gr-id="29">Chandgade</g> extended the remand of the three accused, police slapped the additional charge of attempt to murder for allegedly plotting to kill Sheena’s brother Mikhail. Section 328 IPC (causing hurt by poison) has also been slapped against Indrani after Mikhail claimed she had spiked his drink on the fateful day when Sheena was killed.
Mikhail had also alleged that just hours before Sheena was taken out by their mother and Khanna on April 24, 2012 on what turned out to be the last drive of her life, Indrani drugged him but he managed to escape from the spot and averted becoming the second murder victim.
<g data-gr-id="63">Chandgade</g> rejected the contention of defence lawyers Gunjan Mangla and Hrishikesh Mundergi, appearing for Indrani and Khanna, that since the two have been in police custody for sufficient time it should not be extended. The public prosecutor said investigators suspect the involvement of people outside Maharashtra in the 2012 murder, and so further custodial interrogation of Indrani, Rai and Khanna was required. The police also wanted to probe the exact motive behind Sheena’ Bora’s murder and were trying to ascertain where the accused dumped her clothes, <g data-gr-id="64">cellphone</g> and other belongings after the murder, the court was told.
Indrani’s lawyers alleged that the police were using pressure tactics to force a confession from her and that she was allegedly slapped while in custody. As an army of journalists mobbed the court, her lawyers added Indrani had been interrogated for around 90 hours since her arrest on August 25 and there was no need to question her <g data-gr-id="69">any more</g>. After the police submitted the status report, the court extended the police custody of the three till September 5. The first to be arrested in the case was Indrani’s driver Rai, followed by Indrani and Khanna.
The probe has revealed that Indrani was often whipped by her drunk father. According to her neighbours, Indrani also tried to run away with her family driver while in school. However, she was caught by her parents and brought <g data-gr-id="60">back .</g> home, but her school refused to admit her back.
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