Rakesh Maria: Sanjeev Khanna Confessed Complicity in the Crime
The Quint brings you the latest updates on the Sheena Bora murder case.
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Day 3: Sheena Bora’s Remains, an Explosive Interview, and Sanjeev Khanna’s Confession
The biggest challenge before the police has been to find the remains of Sheena Bora, because without a body, a conviction is difficult. But there are signs that there has been a breakthrough.
Highlights:
- Indrani Mukerjea, Sanjeev Khanna, and Indranis’ driver Shyam Rai were interrogated by the Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria. Khanna has confessed that he was complicit in the murder.
- DNA from the remains of the body found in Raigad has been sent for testing. Sheena’s passport has been recovered, which indicates that she never went to the US, as claimed by Indrani Mukerjea.
- NDTV reports that body parts have been “found in a forest in Maharashtra’s Raigad” and that “if the exhumed remains are established as Sheena’s, the police will have a strong case.”
- Meanwhile, Mumbai’s JJ Hospital confirmed to The Quint that unknown teeth, bone and tissue samples were given to them by the Raigad police in December 2012.
- In either case, forensic experts will need to establish Sheena Bora’s identity conclusively. The Quint’s Nikita Mishra tells you how.
- The Mumbai police confirmed The Quint’s Thursday report that stated Sheena Bora was pregnant at the time of her death.
- Sheena Bora may have died in 2012, but to the world she was still ‘alive’ in the sense that Indrani Mukerjea may have used her phone number to keep up the pretence.
- Indrani Mukerjea had “delusions of grandeur” said journalist Vir Sanghvi in a tell-all interview to India Today. Sanghvi was equally unsparing of Peter Mukerjea, calling him ruthless.
- CNN-IBN reported that Indrani Mukerjea was uncooperative during interrogation. Meanwhile, Sanjeev Khanna, her ex-husband who was the third arrested in the case was sent to police custody till August 31st.
- Mikhail Bora, Sheena’s brother was questioned by the police in Mumbai. He is said to have shared two affidavits with the Mumbai police.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria: Sanjeev Khanna Confesses Complicity in Murder
Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria, after carrying out a joint interrogation of all the accused said that the third accused, Sanjeev Khanna, has confessed to his complicity in the crime.
He also added that the Mumbai Police has recovered Sheena Bora’s passport from Dehradun earlier today, and it negates the theory that she had been to the United States, as stated by Indrani Mukerjea.
Maria also said that DNA from Sheena’s skeletal remains, recovered earlier today, would be sent for testing tomorrow.
In his closing statement, Maria said that Mikhail Bora had provided some vital information which the Mumbai Police will verify, and that further investigations are on.
Late Night Joint Interrogation by Rakesh Maria, Commissioner, Mumbai Police
Indrani Mukerjea, Sanjeev Khanna, and Shyam Rai — the three accused in the Sheena Bora murder case are being jointly interrogated by Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria at Khar Police station, reports Times Now.
Sheena’s brother Mikhail Bora is also present.
The Quint is in possession of Sheena Bora’s HSC certificate which lists her grandfather, Upendra Kumar Bora as her father.
An affidavit filed by Indrani Mukerjea, after her separation with her first husband Siddharth Das, in which she handed over custody of her two children Sheena and Mikhail, aged 3 and 4 at the time, to her parents Durga Ranee Bora and Upendra Kumar Bora.
The Quint Exclusive:
- At the time of her death, Sheena may have been pregnant, and that fact may have led to her murder, as The Quint reported exclusively.
- An anonymous caller from Meerut gave the Mumbai police the tip-off that Sheena Bora was murdered, The Quint reported.
- Media houses now reporting that Sheena Bora may have been the child of Indrani Mukerjea and Indrani’s father. The Quint reported this fact yesterday, without identifying the father.
Indrani Mukerjea Uncooperative During Interrogation
CNN-IBN reports that Indrani Mukerjea has been uncooperative during interrogation.
The police are currently questioning Indrani, her driver Shyam Rai and her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna separately.
CNN-IBN reports that Peter Mukerjea has reached Khar police station where he will be questioned by Mumbai police.
CNN-IBN also reports Mikhail Bora, Indrani’s son, has reached Khar police station for questioning.
Vir Sanghvi’s Explosive Interview
Veteran journalist Vir Sanghvi has, in an explosive interview to India Today Television, spoken freely (and bitterly) about the Mukerjeas. He began the interview by stating that he is not the most objective person to comment on the couple.
Quotes from the interview:
Peter did not show any enthusiasm in launching the channel. 9X was launched by then, and it is the biggest disaster in broadcasting history. They lied to us when they said it was doing very well.
We had a meeting in the basement of NewsX in December and Peter said I am taking away your (NewsX) entire distribution budget. He said for an elite channel, why do you have to be in cable. They said they needed the money for 9X.
The Mukerjeas had a PR man whose job was to project Indrani as a media baron.
Rumours about my sacking were orchestrated by the Mukerjeas. They wouldn’t take my calls. And then they left our headquarters “twisting slowly in the wind”.
9X went bust owing various people crores of money. They went off to different parts of the world, from one luxury vacation to other.
Was Indrani Sexually Harassed by her Step-father?
Vir Sanghvi claims that Indrani once told a group of people that her step-father had molested her and that she left home because her mother would not take her side.
Sanghvi also claims Indrani had introduced Sheena as her step-sister from the same step-father.
Vir Sanghvi Speaks About the Mukerjeas
Vir Sanghvi tells India Today, “Peter was besotted with his wife.”
Sanghvi said, “Indrani once said, that she wanted people to fear her. She was very obsessed with being this great media baron.”
Sanghvi reveals, “Peter was a great businessman. He is not the amiable chap that he pretends to be and why should he?”
6 PM: Periscope with Chandan Nandy, the journalist who is getting you all the exclusive details on the Sheena Bora murder case.
He will take your questions too, LIVE.
Sanjeev Khanna, Indrani Mukerjea’s ex-husband, taken to Pen village in Raigad.
Join The Quint’s Chandan Nandy as he decodes the Sheena Bora murder mystery. Click on the Periscope link below for live broadcast.
At 4:15 PM, watch out for a Periscope with Chandan Nandy, the journalist getting you the exclusive revelations on the Sheena Bora murder case.
JJ Hospital confirms to The Quint that unknown teeth, bone and tissue samples were given to them by the Raigad Police in December 2012. The Dean of the hospital Dr Lahane tells The Quint that the samples were analysed and handed over to the Mumbai Police.
They have not yet confirmed if the remains were Sheena Bora’s.
NDTV reports Sheena Bora’s remains that were buried in Raigad in 2012 have now been exhumed.
Dr Lahane, the Dean of JJ Hospital tells India Today the hospital had preserved Sheena Bora’s tooth, hair scalp, bones. The remains are now being handed over to Mumbai Police, he added.
Was Sheena Bora Killed for Money?
Police sources revealed to The Quint that a significant portion of the money siphoned off after INX Media went “bust” was invested in several properties in the name of Sheena Bora.
Sanjeev Khanna, Indrani Mukerjea’s ex-husband, has been sent to police custody till August 31.
Times Now reports Mumbai police has indicated they have reason to believe, the remains of the body found at Raigad are Sheena Bora’s.
The Quint Exclusive Confirmed: Mumbai Police Says Sheena Was Pregnant
The Quint has now learnt that circumstantial evidence pieced together by investigators shows that Sheena Bora was pregnant at the time she was murdered.
This has been confirmed to The Quint by top sources in the Mumbai police. The Quint on August 27 ran the story that Sheena was carrying the baby of a man “very, very close” to Indrani Mukerjea.
Mikhail Bora arrives in Mumbai. He will soon be questioned by a team of Mumbai police.
Was There Criminal Negligence on the Part of Raigad Police?
Newspaper reports suggest that bone and DNA samples of Sheena Bora were sent to a laboratory in 2012 after her body was found. According to procedure, the Raigad police should have asked for a report whether or not there was cause to suspect murder at the time.
If some or all contents of the “DNA evidence pack” are missing, as reported, it amounts to criminal negligence by Raigad police.
On Friday, Indian Express reported that a packet containing “material DNA evidence” reportedly related to Sheena Bora - a patch of pink cloth, a broken tooth and a bone from the right shoulder - seems to have gone missing.
9 Possible Questions to Mikhail Bora
Mikhail, the brother of Sheena Bora, has claimed several times in the past few days that he has incriminating evidence. He has stated that he has documents and photographs in his possession that will prove the true nature of relationships between all family members.
As of this morning, Mikhail Bora is being brought to Mumbai for questioning.
Here are 9 questions that we think Mumbai police could put to him.
– When was the last time Mikhail met Sheena Bora?
– Why are Mikhail’s grandparents cited as his and Sheena’s parents in both their birth certificates?
– Did Mikhail know that Indrani told the world that he and Sheena were her siblings and not children?
– What are these documents and photographs that he claims are ‘vital evidence’ against Indrani?
– Was Indrani paying him Rs 40,000 per month? For what?
– Did he try to contact Sheena when his mother told him Sheena was in the US?
– Was Mikhail aware that Sheena had been killed? Was he blackmailing her?
– Mikhail claimed that Indrani offered him a job and threatened to cut off financial support to his grandparents if he refused the offer. Why did she offer him a job? Why didn’t he go to the police?
– Was the relationship between Sheena and Indrani bitter? What does he know about it?
– Did he contact Rahul Mukerjea about filing the missing persons report?
Mumbai police identifies DNA samples from a body that is allegedly Sheena Bora’s. The samples were sent by Raigad police. These samples will now be matched with Indrani Mukerjea and her husband.
Meanwhile, Indrani’s lawyers have filed an appeal in the Mumbai Metropolitan Court to meet her during interrogation, which the court has allowed.
The court is still undecided on their appeal to bring her home-cooked food and fresh clothes.
Times Now reports that Mikhail submitted two affidavits to the police.
One of them is an adoption certificate, which states that Sheena and Mikhail were legally adopted by their maternal grandparents in 1992. Times Now reports that this is conclusive proof that Sheena’s birth certificate was forged.
The second affidavit, the report says, is a separation certificate that is legal proof of Indrani and Siddharth Das’ separation.
Mikhail Bora leaves for Mumbai from Guwahati Airport.
Shyam Rai, Indrani’s Driver, Confesses
- Who physically strangled Sheena remains unclear; Indrani and Sajeev are blaming each other. The driver, Shyam Rai says that Sanjeev is guilty of strangling her. (Mumbai Mirror)
- The driver is “singing like a canary:” he confessed about a recce to Raigadh a day before the murder was committed. (Mumbai Mirror)
- Khanna stayed at Hilltop Hotel in Worli and the three went to Raigad to do a recce of the area in on April 23, 2012. (Mumbai Mirror)
- Rahul had come with Sheena when they picked her up in Bandra, but Indrani asked him to leave. Sheena was allegedly killed on the way to Worli. (Mumbai Mirror)
No Case Registered When Sheena’s Body was First Found?
- Mikhail Bora leaves for Mumbai to give his statement to the Khar police.
- He claims that he has “photographic evidence” to prove the motive behind his sister’s death was not property related. These photographs may be key to solving the murder.
- Off the record, sources from the Pen police said that no case had been registered in 2012. (Mid-day)
- Villagers found the body in a burnt and decomposed state. (Mid-day)
What We Know So Far
- Indrani has been evasive and is repeatedly changing her statements to the investigators. Even experienced interrogators are finding her difficult to crack. [HT]
- Sanjeev Khanna, received a substantial amount of money from undisclosed sources soon after the murder. [HT]
- A packet containing “material DNA evidence” reportedly relating to Sheena Bora - a patch of pink cloth, a broken tooth and a bone from the right shoulder - seems to have gone missing. [IE]
- Some remains of Sheena’s body in the form of bones were sent to the JJ Hospital in Mumbai’s Byculla and the rest were buried in the jungle, according to Raigad police. Mumbai police claimed to have tracked down those bones to JJ’s forensic department, but authorities at the hospital said they are yet to look up the records. [TOI]
Ex Mother-in-Law Says Peter Mukerjea is Lying
- Peter Mukerjea’s ex mother-in-law (from his first marriage) says he is lying about not knowing that Sheena was Indrani’s daughter. [TOI]
- Sheena Bora’s birth certificate mentions her grand-parents - Upendra Kumar Bora and Durga Ranee Bora - as her parents. [TOI]
- Sources say Rahul Mukerjea spoke with the police about his relationship with Sheena and troubles with Indrani, his stepmother. According to the report, he also recalled Sheena on the last day, when she disappeared and how she spoke to him about her unwillingness to meet her mother. [HT]
Wrap-up of Day 2: Mukerjeas Spill More Secrets
Yet more members of the Mukerjea household were either questioned, or joined the investigation in the murder of Sheena Bora, on the second day after Indrani Mukerjea’s arrest in the case.
Highlights:
- In a press conference, Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria informed that the person, who sent e-mails terminating Sheena’s employment and her lease agreement, has disclosed that he did it on Indrani’s (“lady accused”) behest. He also said that Sanjeev Khanna is in the process of being brought to Mumbai.
- A document registered only in 2002 says Sheena was the daughter of her maternal grandfather. But the grandfather says it is Siddhartha Das, who has not yet been contacted by the cops. Meanwhile Mikhail Bora, Sheena’s brother has claimed that one Mr Chirag is Sheena’s father. He also said that photographs of Indrani and Chirag together are in his possession.
- Rahul Mukerjea was questioned by the Mumbai police in the morning. Rahul, Peter Mukerjea’s son, had been in a relationship with Sheena Bora at the time of her death. Rahul reportedly confirmed the relationship and added that Indrani did not approve of it.
- In Dispur, Mikhail Bora was also questioned by the police. Mikhail, Sheena Bora’s brother, joined the investigation. He reportedly told the police that he had photos that would prove the true nature of relations between all parties involved.
- Sanjeev Khanna, the arrested ex-husband of Indrani, reportedly said that he was asleep in the car when Sheena Bora was strangulated.
- Shyam Rai, the driver of Indrani Mukerjea who was arrested on Tuesday, reportedly said in a statement that Indrani and Sanjeev picked up Sheena in the car and strangulated her.
Who Said What
- Indrani Mukerjea, who is a key suspect, is Sheena’s mother, and not sister as she had originally claimed. This was confirmed by Sheena Bora’s brother Mikhail Bora.
- Mikhail Bora said he was shattered to learn of his sister’s death. He had been told she was abroad for studies. Mikhail now says he believes his mother Indrani was behind Sheena’s murder. He also says that if Indrani denies any of the facts then he will come clean to the media on August 31, 2015.
- Peter Mukerjea, Indrani’s husband, supplied a potential motive. In media interviews, he said that Indrani was upset that his son Rahul Mukerjea and Sheena had an affair. Rahul and Sheena are step siblings. Rahul Mukerjea was subsequently questioned by the police. In an exclusive interview to he said that he was shocked to know about his wife’s links to the Sheena Bora murder case.
- Sanjeev Khanna, Indrani’s second husband, was arrested in Kolkata. His was the third arrest in the case, after the arrests of Indrani Mukerjea and her driver Shyam Rai.
- Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria said in a media statement that Sheena Bora was strangulated and later burnt. He also said Sheena’s remains were discovered almost a month after her murder in April 2012. Maria added that the person who sent Sheena’s resignation, and the e-mail to her landlord ending the lease agreement, did so at Indrani Mukerjea’s behest.
- Upendra Kumar Bora, Indrani Mukherjea’s father, cleared that Sheena Bora was his grand daughter and not his daughter. He named Sheena’s father as one Siddartha Das.
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