Sheena Bora murder case: Indrani’s advocate can meet her, witness probe

Mumbai: The Bandra magistrate’s court on Friday allowed an advocate’s application to meet her client Indrani Mukerjea — arrested in connection with killing her daughter Sheena Bora — in police custody and witness her interrogation from a distance.

Advocate Gunjan Mangla argued before the court that it was a fundamental right of the accused to be provided legal assistance and the police did not allow her lawyers to meet her.

The prosecution did not object to Ms Mangla’s application to meet Indrani in the police station and remain present during her interrogation.

The public prosecutor however said that there was no provision to provide home food to an accused in police custody and it was the police’s duty to provide basic facilities to an accused in their custody.

After the prosecution’s argument, Ms Mangla withdrew her application seeking home food for Indrani in police custody.

Additional chief metropolitan magistrate S.M. Chandagade after hearing both sides passed an order directing senior police inspector of Khar police station and investigating officer to follow guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in the D.K. Basu case.

The lawyer had pleaded to direct the officers to meet them during a specific time. The court, however, said it could not pass an order for specific time but the officers were directed to follow guidelines issued in the D.K. Basu v/s State of West Bengal case.

The Supreme Court had laid down 11 specific requirements and procedures that the police needed to follow for arrest, detention and interrogation of any person to avoid incidence of violence and torture in custody.