CBI court rejects Peter Mukerjea's bail plea filed on medical grounds

Mumbai: The special Central Bureau of Investiagtion (CBI) court on Thursday rejected the interim bail application filed by Peter Mukerjea on medical grounds.

The Judge held that the applicant’s claim that he would die in jail post-surgery due to unhygienic conditions was not true as he was placed in a separate cell, which was in a separate building in Arthur Road Jail which had availability of medical facilities round-the-clock.

Meanwhile, Peter’s wife and prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, Indrani Mukerjea, also filed a bail application on health grounds before the court. This is her fourth such bail plea.

While passing order on the bail plea filed by Peter, special CBI Judge J.C. Jagdale dealt with points raised by his lawyers Shrikant Shivde and Amit Ghag.

Regarding the lawyers’ claim about unhygienic and aggravated conditions at Arthur Road Jail, the Judge said that Peter had been kept in a special cell of the jail.

“The said special cell is located in a separate building and detached from the rest of the premises of the jail,” the Judge said. He added that Peter had been kept on the ground floor of this two-storey building and there were various facilities like television and English newspapers available to him. There were two big rooms which were surrounded by open space. “Sure, he has to share the room with hardly one or two inmates,” said the Judge. “This is the same cell, which has been presented to the magisterial court of Britain by the Central government in the extradition process of another fugitive accused,” he observed.

The Judge also refused to accept that there was inordinate delay in taking the accused to J.J. Hospital, becuse of government laxities.