Sheena Bora Case: CBI Quizzing Rakesh Maria a Mere Formality

Rakesh Maria led a team of investigators who are said to have planted evidence against some of the accused. (Photo: Lijumol Joseph/ The Quint)

The CBI’s decision to examine three Mumbai Police officers, including former commissioner Rakesh Maria, in the Sheena Bora murder case, is of no legal consequence, especially after the investigating agency submitted its second supplementary chargesheet a few days ago.

While it is unclear at what point in time Maria and the other two officers were questioned, the CBI’s belated move can potentially affect further investigations, should the agency decide to continue with its probe, besides impacting the course of the trial which is expected to begin shortly once the framing of charges against the three accused persons, Indrani Mukerjea, her husband Peter and Sanjeev Khanna is over.

Maria’s Curious Interest Towards Sheena Bora Murder Case

Indrani’s driver Shyamwar Rai, whose statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code, is peppered with holes, had earlier sought a plea bargain to turn approver.

The role of Maria, Joint Commissioner (Law and Order) Deven Bharti and investigating officer, Inspector Dinesh Kadam, had raised eyebrows when the Mumbai police investigated the sensational murder case for less than a month before it was transferred to the CBI.

Indrani Mukherjea, suspected accused in Sheena Bora murder case after being produced at a Mumbai Court on 20 November, 2015. (Photo: IANS)

Maria, who was subsequently removed as commissioner for showing excessive interest in the case, led a team of investigators who are said to have planted evidence against some of the accused, including Khanna and Rai.

The CBI, which initially showed great interest in probing the role of Maria and Bharti, did not follow through with its move against the two senior police officers. While the officers’ culpability in the case – planting evidence or suppressing facts to suit a particular line of investigation – was clear, the CBI’s interest in Maria and Bharti waned for inexplicable reasons once the first supplementary chargesheet was submitted to a Mumbai court in January this year.

Also Read: Mumbai Police Ex-ACP May Have Played a Role in Sheena Bora Murder

Doubtful Impact

It is doubtful that the CBI will proceed against the three police officers. One of the prime pieces of evidence that the Mumbai police is alleged to have planted on the accused were three pairs of shoes that were said to have been used by Indrani, Khanna and Rai while disposing off Sheena Bora’s body at Gagode Khurd in Pen taluka of Raigad district on 25 April 2012, a day after the murder.

While the Mumbai police investigators, including Kadam, played a central role in planting a gun on Rai to “take him in” on 19 August 2015 (he was shown arrested on 21 August, four days before Indrani was nabbed), Bharti is said to have misrepresented facts when he underplayed his close association with the Mukerjeas.

What is surprising, however, is that the CBI has chosen to overlook the suspicious role of a former Mumbai police officer, Assistant Inspector Sohail Buddha and his younger brother Sameer, the latter having spoken over phone with Indrani the evening (24 April 2012) the murder took place, according to the CBI, at Pali Hill.