Opening of Sheena Bora murder trial deferred

The central agency was slated to open its case against Peter, his wife Indrani, their driver Shyamvar Rai and Indrani’s ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna on Tuesday.

The central bureau of investigation (CBI) on Tuesday made a statement before the Bombay high court that the prosecution will not open the Sheena Bora murder case for trial till Thursday.

Sheena Bora with her boyfriend Rahul Mukerjea (HT file photo)

That is when the high court has posted the plea of one of the accused in the case, former media baron Peter Mukerjea, seeking copy of a statement of one of the witnesses for further hearing.

The central agency was slated to open its case against Peter, his wife Indrani, their driver Shyamvar Rai and Indrani’s ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna on Tuesday.

The statement came after Justice Mohite-Dere questioned the CBI’s move to withhold the statement of Prosecution Witness -11 from the accused persons. The central agency, which investigated the case, filed the statement along with its second supplementary charge-sheet in the case on October 21, 2016. Next day, the special CBI court, however, rejected Indrani’s plea seeking copy of the statement, thus compelling him to approach the high court.

“How can you withhold a document from accused persons which you are relying on (for prosecuting them),” the judge sought to know of the CBI counsel Patil, who asked for time to seek instructions. At this juncture, Peter’s lawyer pointed out that the prosecution was scheduled to open its case against the accused on Tuesday afternoon. Patil then made a statement that the CBI will not proceed with the trial till Thursday, when the high court has posted the Mukerjea’s plea for further hearing.