Indrani Mukerjea claims 'being framed' in Sheena Bora murder case

Agencies
November 16, 2017

New Delhi, Nov 16: The murder of 24-year-old Sheena Bora took a new and murkier turn on Wednesday as Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused and Sheena's mother, told the special CBI court that her husband Peter Mukerjea might have framed her and sought his call data record.

Though she did not directly accuse Peter — a former media baron — of killing Sheena, Indrani said he and their former driver Shyamwar Rai could be behind her abduction, disposing the body and destroying evidence.

This latest development further complicates the case which came to light in August 2015 when the driver Rai, arrested in an arms case, spilled the beans. Mumbai Police arrested Rai, Indrani and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna at the time. Peter Mukerjea was also arrested later. It is alleged that Indrani killed Sheena because she disapproved of her relationship with Peter's son Rahul.

Here's a look at the various versions of Sheena Bora's murder that have emerged during the course of the investigation and trial:

Indrani Mukerjea's version

In her application to the CBI court on Wednesday, Indrani alleged that her husband Peter and others, may have framed her and influenced witnesses and situations that led to her arrest.

"I have strong reasons to believe that Peter, with the assistance of other persons, including (accused turned approver) Shyamwar Rai may have conspired and abducted my daughter Sheena in 2012 and made her untraceable and subsequently destroyed evidence," she said in an application.

Indrani said she believes that Peter and others may have manipulated the situation to frame her and influence witnesses, circumstances and information that led to her arrest "for the heinous crime that they may have committed, aided and abetted".

"I am convinced that if we are able to obtain the call data record of Peter, we will be in a better position to ascertain if Peter and other persons were involved in the disappearance of my daughter Sheena and there will be more clarity if Peter and other persons have a role in framing me," she said in the application.

Driver Shyamwar Rai's version

In October 2017, Rai told the CBI court that Indrani was sitting on Sheena's lap when the murder took place and that he helped muffle her screams. Rai was initially the accused before turning approver for the prosecution and alleged Indrani planned the murder with her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna.

He said though Sheena had bitten his thumb when he covered her mouth with his hand (when she was killed), he didn't take any treatment for it afterwards. After she bit him, Rai said, he took off his hand, but he doesn't know if anybody else tried to cover Sheena's mouth then. Sheena did not make any noise after he had removed his hand, he told the court.

"When I was asked to close Sheena's mouth I did not tell her (Indrani) that I will not do so as my job is that of a driver," Rai told the special CBI judge JC Jagdale.

Earlier in July 2017, Rai claimed that Indrani had informed him that she wanted to kill her daughter Sheena and step-son Mikhail.

Rai said that Indrani told him about her plans to murder her two children via a Skype call and asked for his help. He further added that Indrani wanted to kill both of them as they were maligning her image in the society.

Sheena also threatened to expose the truth that Indrani was their mother and not their sister as the latter had claimed.

CNN-News 18 quoted Rai as saying,"She (Indrani) then asked me to open the garage and the bag carrying Sheena's body. Khanna and I took the bag out and kept it in the back. Madam then asked me to switch off my mobile phone. We then left on the Pen road. She asked me stop at a petrol pump on the road. I stopped the car and got petrol in a can."

Rai further admitted to he helped Indrani get rid of the body in a forest in Raigad: "I along with Indrani and her husband Sanjeev Khanna, left to dispose of Sheena’s body and burnt it in a forest in Gagode village of Raigad district on 24 April, 2012.”

Peter Mukerjea's version

Founder of INX Media, Peter claimed that he was never against Sheena and Rahul's, his son from an earlier marriage, relationship.

Peter earlier said, when Indrani was arrested in August 2015, that he had no knowledge of Sheena being Indrani's daughter. "I’m still holding out a little hope that this is all some big mistake,’ said Peter in his initial statements and that he was ‘dumbstruck by the level of criminality…" according to DNA.

He also claimed to know about the affair between Sheena Bora and his son Rahul Mukherjea and had no qualms about it as both were consenting adults. When initially interrogated by the police, Peter had said that he had no information about the killing and had no direct or indirect connection with it. He also said that he was in Europe in 2012. He added that his wife and driver did not mention anything about the killing. He further added that his son Rahul had told him about the incident but he did not believe him.

He also claimed that he didn't have a clue that Indrani was in touch with her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna, and that Indrani had shown him e-mails from Sheena which were from the US at the time.

CBI's version

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case in September 2015. In its 1,000 page chargesheet, the agency said that Peter was aware of the murder and in constant touch with Indrani prior to, during and after the killing from London.

Both Peter and Indrani were against Sheena and Rahul's relationship and were "equal participants" in the conspiracy to murder her, according to the Hindustan Times. After disposing Sheena's body, Indrani reportedly spoke to Peter for 924 seconds.

The CBI had arrested Indrani, Sanjeev, Rai and Peter in connection with Sheena Bora's murder.

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News Network
March 14,2024

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The high-level committee on simultaneous elections, chaired by Ram Nath Kovind, on Thursday met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan and submitted its report on 'One Nation, One Election'. The report comprises 18,626 pages.

Home Minister Amit Shah was also present at Rashtrapati Bhawan when Kovind led panel submitted the report.

"Simultaneous polls to Lok Sabha and state assemblies can be held in first step, followed by local body polls within 100 days in second step," reported PTI quoting the panel.

"Synchronised polls for all three tiers of government to improve governance architecture, in line with quest of aspirational India," it added.

The report has been submitted 191 days after the constitution of the panel on September 2, 2023.

It's further reported that the proposal also puts focus on having a singular electoral roll for holding Lok Sabha, state assembly and local body polls.

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News Network
March 10,2024

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The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress on Sunday, March 10, declared its candidate list for the Lok Sabha polls expected to be held in April-May this year.

Banerjee's nephew and TMC general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, announced the names of 42 candidates for all the seats in Bengal.

Abhishek surprised many when he announced the name of former cricketer Yusuf Pathan from Baharampur, which is the bastion of Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Party leader Mahua Moitra also appears among the candidates from her usual seat of Krishnanagar.

Banerjee and her team of candidates arrived at Kolkata's Brigade Parade Ground on Sunday afternoon as the TMC kicked off the campaign for the elections.

Banerjee also announced that the party is in talks with the Samajwadi Party for contesting in one Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh.

Among some of the prominent names, Abhishek Banerjee will contest from Diamond Harbour, expelled Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra from Krishnanagar, Bengali film actor Dipak Adhikary from his usual constituency Ghatal, former cricketer and politician Kirti Azad from Bardhaman-Durgapur. Bollywood veteran Shatrughan Sinha will contest from Asansol.

Before announcing the names, Abhishek slammed the Modi government at the Centre, claiming that "Modi ki guarantee" has "zero warranty". He also labelled BJP leaders as "outsiders and anti-Bengal", who only visit the state during elections.

Banerjee also asserted that the people of the state will give a befitting reply to the saffron camp during the Lok Sabha elections for "withholding the state's funds".

Check out the full list of candidates here:

  • Coochbehar: Jagdish Chandra Basuniya
  • Alipurduar: Prakash Chik Baraik
  • Jalpaiguri: Nirmal Chandra Roy
  • Darjeeling: Gopal Lama
  • Raigunj: Krishna Kalyani
  • Balurghat: Biplab Mitra
  • Malda North: Prasun Banerjee
  • Malda South: Shahnawaz Ali Raihan
  • Jangipur: Khalilur Rehman
  • Baharampur: Yusuf Pathaan
  • Murshidabad: Abu Teher Khan
  • Krishnanagar: Mahua Moitra
  • Ranaghat: Mukutmani Adhikari
  • Bangaon: Biswajit Das
  • Barrackpore: Partha Bhowmik
  • Dum Dum: Sougata Roy
  • Barasat: Kakali Ghosh Dastidar
  • Basirhat: Haji Nurul Islam
  • Joynagar: Pratima Mondal
  • Mathurapur: Bapi Haldar
  • Diamond Harbour: Abhishek Banerjee
  • Jadavpur: Sayoni Ghosh
  • Kolkata South: Mala Roy
  • Kolkata North: Sudip Bandyopadhyay
  • Howrah: Prasun Bandyopadhyay
  • Uluberia: Sajdah Ahmed
  • Srirampore: Kalyan Banerjee
  • Hoogly: Rachana Banerjee
  • Arambagh: Mitali Bag
  • Tamluk: Debangshu Bhattacharya
  • Kanthi: Uttam Barik
  • Ghatal: Dipak Adhikary (Dev)
  • Jhargram: Kalipada Soren
  • Medinipur: June Malia
  • Purulia: Shantiram Mahato
  • Bankura: Arup Chakraborty
  • Bardhaman North: Dr. Sharmila Sarkar
  • Bardhaman-Durgapur: Kirti Azad
  • Asansol: Shatrughan Sinha
  • Bolpur: Asit Kumar Mal
  • Birbhum: Shatabdi Roy
  • Bishnupur: Sujata Khan

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News Network
March 7,2024

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Mohammed Asfan, a 30-year-old from Hyderabad, was killed months after he was duped into joining Russia's war against Ukraine, the Indian Embassy in Moscow said on Wednesday. 

Ministry of External Affairs has said around 20 Indian nationals are working as support staff to the Russian army. Asfan's family had said that he along with two other men reached Russia in November last year after they were promised jobs as helpers in Russian government offices.

Asfan last spoke with his family on December 31 last year, just weeks before they were informed of his death. 

"We have learnt about the tragic death of an Indian national Shri Mohammed Asfan. We are in touch with the family and Russian authorities. Mission will make efforts to send his mortal remains to India," the embassy said in a post on X.

How he was duped

•    Asfan worked in a cloth showroom in Hyderabad.
 
•    According to his family, Asfan was cheated by a Dubai-based agent who runs a YouTube channel called 'Baba Vlogs' and talked about helping people get work permits for the country in his videos.
 
•    The agent promised several men high-paying jobs as security guards in Russia and had taken ₹ 3 lakh each from them, the family said.
 
•    After reaching Moscow, Asfan and others were made to sign a Russian document. They realised later that they were recruited as "helpers" in the Russian army, Asfan's brother Imran said.
 
•    Imran said one of the agents who duped Asfan into going to Russia contacted him recently to tell him that Asfan's contract was cancelled. He also claimed that Asfan was injured but not dead, Imran said.
 
•    Asfan's family were first informed about his death by AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who had written to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar about men from different Indian states being cheated into taking part in the war on the pretext of high-paying jobs in Russia.

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