Indrani, Peter Mukerjea talk to each other first time after arrest in Sheena Bora murder case
Mumbai city news: The trial came to halt after March as the defence challenged the deposition of a Khar police officer who arrested Shyamwar Rai – Indrani’s former driver and co-accused.
Almost two years after their arrest in Sheena Bora murder case, Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea spoke to each other for the first time in court.
The trial resumed on Tuesday and after the court recorded the deposition of police officer Ganesh Dalvi, Peter and Indrani stepped into the witness box.
Peter said, “Sir, Indrani is my wife and I want to talk to her for 15 minutes in private.” Indrani too appealed to the court.
The court allowed the two to talk in the court room. They were asked to sit in the accused box. Only Central Bureau of Investigation prosecutors Kavita Patil and Bharat Badami with CBI investigating officer KK Singh were allowed to sit in the court along with the court staff.
The two were engaged in intense discussion. After the allotted time was over, the court intervened and asked the guards to take them back to jail.
Indrani, her previous husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyamvar Rai were arrested in August 2015 for hatching a conspiracy, kidnapping and killing Sheena. Three months later, Peter was arrested by the CBI.
Indrani and Peter did not speak to each other even when they were brought to court together. While Peter would prefer to sit in one corner, Indrani and Sanjeev would take the other side. The two would direct their lawyers to pass messages to Peter. When the three would have to sit in the accused box, Sanjeev would take the seat between the two.
On Tuesday, the prosecution continued to examine Dalvi, police inspector from Khar police station, who arrested Rai in August 2015, for possession of a pistol without licence. After Rai’s arrest, the police found out about Sheena, who was killed in April 2012.
Dalvi told the court that Rai took them first to a place near National College where Sheena was picked up. He also took them to Pen village where Sheena’s body was burnt and disposed of.
The defense lawyers have sought to cross examine Dalvi after the deposition of Rai, who is a approver in the case. The CBI has sought time to reply to the lawyers’ plea.