MUMBAI: The recent developments in the Sheena Bora murder mystery seem nothing short of twists out of James Patterson’s crime thriller novels. If the media and entertainment industry was shocked by the alleged involvement of media honcho and ex-Star TV CEO Peter Mukerjea’s wife Indrani Mukerjea in her sister’s murder, Wednesday’s revelations have left them speechless.
The day was marked by media reports revealing that a close family friend of the accused had claimed that the victim Sheena Bora was indeed Indrani’s daughter from a previous marriage.
While the allegation could not be verified then with Indrani’s legal representatives, Sheena’s brother, Mikhail Bora, who works in an airline and was brought up with the victim in Guwahati by their grandparents, confirmed it to the media. “My sister was killed, I have no doubt about that. I had no clue when Sheena died. Whenever I checked, Indrani always claimed Sheena is abroad and busy with her studies,” he told ANI.
He also shared that Sheena and Indrani didn’t have a pleasant relationship and hinted that he would disclose the real motive behind the murder if Indrani doesn’t confess. “If Indrani Mukerjea doesn't admit to her crime, I will tell police the exact reason for the murder and provide evidence,” he said, dismissing property dispute as a motive. “Since last September, we are not getting any financial help from Indrani."
With a storm like this brewing and the mystery getting murkier, when the media turned to Peter Mukerjea for answers, he claimed that he had no knowledge that Indrani was Sheena’s mother. In fact, his understanding was that Mikhail Bora was also Indrani’s brother. “I am in a state of complete shock,” he said in an interview with Times Now. “I knew Sheena Bora as my wife’s sister for the last 15 years of my marriage and now I am being told that she was her daughter and possibly the person I thought as her brother is actually her son from another marriage,” he added.
Peter also revealed that while in a relationship with Sheena, his younger son from an earlier marriage, Rahul Mukerjea, had once mentioned that Sheena was Indrani’s daughter but he had dismissed his son’s claims.
According to Peter, Sheena was sent to the US in 2012 as Indrani disapproved of her relationship with Rahul, and thus he never questioned her constant absence from home.
“I didn’t believe him (Rahul) at that time as Indrani maintained that she was Sheena’s sister. So much so that it caused a rift between me and my son. I haven’t spoken to him in the last three years,” Mukerjea shared with media before being led away to be questioned by the Mumbai police.
Indrani Mukerjea’s first husband Sanjeev Khanna was also arrested by Mumbai Police in connection with the murder case from Kolkata after interrogation. According to media reports Indrani Mukerjea has confessed to the police that Sheena Bora was her daughter.
Each peg in this murder case has so far been unearthed with dramatic effects.
The Mumbai police spokesperson, DCP (detention) Dhananjay Kulkarni, said Indrani had been arrested along with her driver, Rai, this morning by the Khar (a Mumbai suburb) police.
In the meanwhile, Mumbai Police commissioner Rakesh Maria told reporters that the murder was carried out by strangulation on 24 April, 2012 and the body was then burned and dumped. Maria also confirmed that this act was performed by the three people who have been arrested till now - Indrani Mukerjea, her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyam Rai.
Sheena's remains were found by the police in Raigad district, 112km from Mumbai, following which a case of murder was registered against unknown persons in 2012 and her identity was eventually established.
Further investigations are underway by the police in this shocking case of murder.
