Mumbai/Kolkata: The twists and turns over the murder of Sheena Bora, in which television baron Peter Mukerjea’s wife Indrani is an accused, seem straight out of a Bollywood potboiler. A day after Indrani was arrested for her sister’s murder, it has now emerged that the dead woman was, in fact, her daughter. Indrani’s driver, who was also arrested on Tuesday, confessed to the crime.
Read: Sheena Bora murder case: The main characters and possible motives
After that Indrani is also said to have confessed to her role in the murder. In yet another development in the case, Indrani’s second husband Sanjiv Khanna was arrested in Kolkata in a joint operation by the Mumbai and Kolkata police forces. Further, Peter Mukerjea, speaking to the media, said he was unaware that Sheena was Indrani’s daughter, and said he had always believed that Sheena and his wife were siblings.
Read: No idea Sheena was daughter: Peter Mukerjea
Indrani was arrested from her plush fourth-floor flat in Mumbai’s Worli area on Tuesday. Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria told the press Indrani had confessed to murdering Sheena. “Her driver Rai, who still works for Indrani, confessed to the crime and took us to the spot where they disposed of the body. We are still investigating the case and soon we will tell you the role of Khanna. We have recovered a 7.65mm pistol from the driver.” The police is also exploring financial angles to assess the cause for the murder.
Read: Sheena Bora was strangulated, her body burnt with petrol: Mumbai police chief
Mumbai Police spokesman and DCP Dhananjay Kulkarni said they were working on confidential information for the past two months. “The deceased (Sheena) was kidnapped from Mumbai and murdered by strangulation on April, 24, 2012. The accused later burnt her body by pouring petrol. Her body was found on May 23, 2012 in Pen, Raigad, by the local police.”
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The motive for the murder, however, remains unclear. Some sources claim there was a dispute over property between Sheena and Indrani. Sheena’s brother Mikhail refuted this vehemently, but did not reveal what he thought was Indrani’s real motive for the murder. He maintained he knew the exact cause of the murder and would reveal it only to the police. He added that Indrani and Sheena had many conflicts. Mikhail said he had met Indrani in 2005 in Kolkata when she was married to Peter. “She was not ready to tell him that Sheena and I are her children. She introduced us to him as cousins. She said she was part of high-profile society now. We too gave in as we were financially dependent on her,” said Mikhail.
Read: We were dependent on Indrani Mukerjea, says son Mikhail
Mikhail said Sheena had been living with him and his grandparents in Guwahati for a long time, and Indrani was living in Mumbai. Sheena moved to Mumbai and studied at St. Xavier’s College. Mikhail had inquired about Sheena’s disappearance with Indrani, who told him she had gone abroad for a job. When Mikhail tried to press Indrani to reveal Sheena’s whereabouts, Indrani had allegedly threatened him and said she would stop providing financial help to him. He further added Indrani stopped helping them financially after a point. “I want justice for her (Sheena).
Read: I believe my mother Indrani killed my sister, know exactly why, says son Mikael
She was innocent and didn’t deserve this death,” said Mikhail. It is further believed part of the problem was that Sheena was in a relationship with Rahul, Peter’s son from his first marriage. This was confirmed by Peter as well. Indrani is believed to have been against this relationship. Sources said Rahul dropped Sheena off near National College in 2012, after which she disappeared mysteriously.
Read: Indrani didn't like Sheena's affair with my son Rahul, says husband Peter Mukerjea
Indrani is believed to have picked her up from here, after which she was never seen again.Police sources said Indrani’s first husband Sidharth Das was Mikhail and Sheena’s father. After this she married businessman Sanjiv Khanna, who was arrested on Wednesday in a joint raid by the Mumbai and Kolkata police from his friend’s apartment at Alipore in Kolkata.
Read: Sheena Bora murder: If Indrani doesn't confess, will expose real reason behind crime, says son
He was interrogated for nearly three hours about his role in Sheena’s murder at the Alipore police station. In the evening he was taken for a medical test to a hospital. His friend, Ajay Rawla, from whose house he was picked up, said: “He was at my house. I knew him for a long time. His marriage with Indrani had broken up.”
Read: Was Indrani Mukerjea a teenage mother?
According to him, Khanna has a daughter from Indrani, whose name is Vidhi and who now stays in Mumbai. The Kolkata police said that the Mumbai police approached it for help in arresting the accused.
