Sheena Bora murder case: Driver pardoned as he turns approver

A special CBI court yesterday granted Shyamvar Rai the permission to turn approver in the Sheena Bora murder case when he had appeared, with three other accused - Indrani Mukerjea, Peter Mukerjea and Sanjeev Khanna - for a remand hearing.

Shyamvar Rai

Special judge H S Mahajan asked Rai if he is ready to do all that is asked of him as an approver - reveal truth to the court about what he knows, what he and other accused did and what happened. To this, Rai said he was willing to comply. The judge passed an order declaring him an approver in the case and pardoning him.

Rai's advocate, Shrinivas Bhave, said, "Rai is now a prosecution witness and he will depose before the court during the trial. At this stage, no other statement would be recorded by the judge, as earlier Rai's statement has been recorded before magistrate court."

Last month, Rai had expressed a wish to turn approver before the court and CBI too didn't have any objection. Indrani's lawyer Gunjan Mangla told mid-day, "On July 4, the court has sort CBI's reply regarding opening of the trial and framing charges against the accused." The judicial custody of all four of them was extended to July 4.

Chair for Peter
Peter Mukerjea had filed an application requesting for a chair in the jail as he is suffering from back as well as neck pain. Though the judge allowed it, he also said that the chair would be taken back once Peter is better.