Sheena Bora murder case: Peter Mukerjea may influence witnesses if given bail, says CBI

Peter Mukerjea is in jail in connection with the murder of Sheena Bora. His bail plea was opposed by the CBI on Monday.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday asked the Bombay high court (HC) to reject the bail plea of Peter Mukerjea, arrested in connection with the murder of Sheena Bora, on the grounds that he may influence crucial witnesses if released.

The CBI has opposed the bail application of Peter Mukerjea , accused in the Sheena Bora murder case. (Satish Bate/HT File)

The special public prosecutor pointed out that they are yet to examine crucial witnesses in the trial, including Mukerjea’s son Rahul, his stepdaughter Vidhie and brother Gautam Mukerjea.

Advocate Shrikant Shivde, Mukerjea’s lawyer, countered CBI’s claim and said there is no question of influencing witnesses as he had not been arrested by the agency when the first charge sheet, containing Rahul’s statement, was filed. Shivde pointed out that Mukerjea had not tried to influence anyone at the time. Shivde further contended that there are discrepancies in the CBI’s theories.

For example, the call data records of Shyamwar Rai, who drove Bora, show that he was in Mumbai when the CBI claimed that he was in Pen, 66km from the city.

As per the agency, Indrani Mukerjea, Sheena’s mother and the main accused in the case, had done a recce of Pen, 66km from Mumbai, to find a spot to dump Sheena’s body. When she found a spot, she called Peter to inform him, said the agency. However, as per call data records, Rai was in Mumbai at the time, said Shivde.