Sheena Bora murder case: Peter Mukerjea gets third time unlucky

Peter Mukerjea has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the 2012 murder of Sheena Bora

It was another disappointing day in the Bombay High Court for Peter Mukerjea. On Wednesday, the court rejected his bail application once again. This is the third time his bail application has been rejected since he was held in the Sheena Bora murder case.

Peter, along with his wife Indrani - who is also the prime accused - are in jail for the murder of Indrani's daughter Sheena. Indrani's former husband Sanjeev Khanna, driver Shyamvar Rai have also been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Henpecked husband
The former media baron claimed that there was no evidence against him in the case apart from Call Details Records (CDRs) between him and his wife during the time of murder in 2012. He was never against Sheena and Rahul's relationship and had even blessed them after their engagement, said his counsel Aabad Ponda.

"Peter was fooled by Indrani till 2013 that Sheena was alive and was in some foreign country. Peter had no clue. He was a henpecked husband who just agreed to what his wife said," Ponda argued.

Secretary knew everything
Ponda also claimed that Joint Commissioner of Police Deven Bharti had shared eight messages with Indrani before the murder. Kajal Sharma, Peter's secretary, knew everything and helped in the crime but the CBI took a different stand on them. Peter was in touch with Indrani but there was nothing more to it. Ponda also claimed that Deven Bharti had contradicted his statement, which CBI had recorded twice.

Ponda further claimed that the confessional statement of Shyamwar Rai exonerates Peter completely. Ponda had earlier said before the court that Peter was not aware of any conspiracy to kill Sheena.

CBI doesn't buy theory
Meanwhile, the CBI Counsel, Additional Solicitor General, Anil Singh told Justice Nitin Sambre that the theory presented by Peter is unbelievable. How can somebody keep quiet when a member of his family has been missing for three years? Singh said Peter did not allow Rahul to even register a missing person's complaint. The frequency of calls between Indrani and Peter had increased during the time of the murder. There were no efforts from Peter's side to find Sheena, which shows that he knew everything, claimed Singh.

Next hearing today
Justice Sambre said he was not inclined to grant bail and rejected Peter's application. However, he has kept the matter for reasoning today. Peter's other application of getting a copy of secret witness 11's statement is also likely to be heard by the HC today.

With inputs from Agencies