Peter Mukerjea asks CBI court to reject Indrani’s plea

Mumbai: Former media baron and accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, Peter Mukerjea’s lawyer on Monday requested the CBI court to reject his wife and main accused Indrani Mukerjea’s application contending that allegations made against Peter and her prayer in the application are not connected. Advocate Shrikant Shivde argued that the court reject Indrani’s application and let her file a fresh prayer as per legal procedure, with the court to decide the same on Smerits.

Advocate Shivde argued before special judge J.C. Jagdale that the allegations levelled against Peter in Indrani’s application did not connect with her prayer to seek Peter’s call data records (CDRs). Indrani in her application alleged that she had reason to believe that Peter, with the help of others, kidnapped her daughter Sheena and caused her disappearance. With these allegations, she has sought Peter’s CDRs. Advocate Shivde further argued that if Indrani had reason to believe that her husband had a role in her daughter’s disappearance, she should have told the police the same during investigation. Advocate Shivde said that Indrani was drawing up further strategy to distort the trial. He contended that Indrani was trying to mislead the court and her application could not be treated as confession as it was exculpatory (showing that someone is not guilty of a crime or wrongful act). The lawyer further argued that Indrani was creating an atmosphere that would prejudice the trial by making allegations against the witness (accused-turned-approver Shyamvar Rai) and accused i.e. Peter. He also contended that it was a trap laid by her. According to Peter’s lawyer, Indrani was using the media and misleading the court and there was a systematic attempt to create prejudice (against Peter). Advocate Shivde requested the court to reject her application and ask her to file a fresh application to be decided on merits.

On November 15, Indrani filed an application in court claiming that her husband Peter may have caused her daughter’s disappearance and along with others, manipulated circumstances to frame her in the case.