Mumbai:
The CBI which is probing the Sheena Bora murder case today opposed the bail plea of Sanjeev Khanna, former husband of the prime accused Indrani Mukerjea, before the special court here.
Khanna was involved in a “heinous crime” and there was sufficient evidence against him, CBI said.
Khanna’s lawyer Shreyansh Mithare had filed the bail plea on January 13 saying the CBI had failed to find any possible motive on Khanna’s part for committing the crime and he had been wrongly implicated.
The CBI’s reply says that Khanna and Indrani made all efforts to conceal the murder of Sheena, Indrani’s daughter from an earlier relationship, and he, being an “influential person”, may tamper with the evidence and influence material witnesses, and even abscond if given the bail.
The special CBI judge H S Mahajan today extended the judicial custody of Indrani, Khanna and her former driver Shyam Rai till February 12.
Meanwhile, advocates Amit Desai and Kushal Mor today completed arguments seeking bail for Indrani’s husband and former media baron Peter Mukerjea.
Desai said Peter was arrested in the case inspite of his cooperation with the investigation agencies.
“Not a single incriminating material came up against Peter and if slightest material had come against him he would have been put under arrest earlier,” said Desai.
Peter was arrested on November 19, the same day the CBI chargesheeted Indrani, Khanna and Rai. “When charge sheet was filed there was no suspicion on him and it was filed without any indication of his arrest,” the lawyer said.
Peter also underwent a lie detector test as he had nothing to hide and was not involved in the crime, said Desai.
“In the reply to bail application the only material CBI placed is that Indrani in her statement...said she had told Peter about the murder on April 24, 2012, itself,” he said.
What warranted Peter’s arrest on November 19 was not mentioned in CBI’s reply and he was arrested solely on the basis of Indrani’s statement, Desai said.
