Sheena case: HC seeks CBI’s response on Peter’s bail plea

The Bombay high court on Monday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for its response on the bail plea of former media baron Peter Mukerjea, arrested for his alleged involvement in the murder of his wife Indrani’s daughter from her first marriage Sheena Bora.

Justice Revati Mohite Dere, who issued notice to the CBI, posted Peter’s application for hearing on July 7.  He has approached the High Court, seeking bail after the sessions court rejected his plea on two occasions.

Peter, who was arrested in November last year by the agency, in his bail application on Saturday assailed the lower court orders, rejecting his petition, and said that there was nothing incriminating against him in the charge-sheet.

Others arrested in the case are Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her former driver Shyamvar Rai. Rai has been made an approver and granted pardon.

In his plea, Peter has questioned the lower court’s refusal to grant him bail on the ground that the probe was still on. He was arrested on the day the CBI had filed its first charge-sheet in the court against Indrani, Khanna and Rai, who were arrested last August.

“There is still not an iota of evidence against Peter and he has been kept behind bars only on suspicion. An arrest on mere suspicion based only on calls at odd hours is extremely tenuous,” the application said.

According to the prosecution, Sheena was murdered on April 24, 2012, but the crime came to light after the arrest of Rai in another case in August 2015. Key accused Indrani, Khanna and Rai had allegedly strangled Sheena (24), Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, inside a car.

Sheena’s body was found in a forest in Raigad. The crime, which came to light in August last year, is allegedly linked to certain financial dealings.