Sheena case: Raigad police botch-up under lens, report sought

With questions being raised on the alleged botch-up of the Sheena Bora murder case by Raigad police in 2012, the Maharashtra government has asked state DGP to submit a fresh report on it within 15 days and sought to know why no FIR was filed after the victim's body was found.
In a related development, CBI today continued to grill former media magnate Peter Mukerjea, who was arrested on Thursday and charged with murder, criminal nspiracy, destroying evidence and lying to protect his wife Indrani, at the agency's office in south Mumbai where he is being kept, sources said.
Peter, husband of Indrani, was remanded to CBI custody till November 23 by a magistrate court yesterday.

Peter's son Rahul, who was in a relationship with Sheena, said the charges against his father were "outrageous".
Sheena Bora was allegedly murdered by her mother Indrani Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and former driver Shyamvar Rai here in April 2012. The body of the 24-year-old was dumped at a forest in Raigad district.
Dissatisfied with one-page report submitted by former DGP Sanjeev Dayal on the action taken against the Raidgad police in 2012, the state government Directed Director General of Police Pravin Dixit to submit a fresh report.

The state government has ordered a probe as to why the police had not filed an FIR or an ADR (Accidental Death Report) when Sheena's body was first found at a forest in Pen taluka of Maharashtra's Raigad district on May 23, 2012.

"The last DG (Dayal) submitted a one-page report to us, but I was not satisfied with it. I said supporting documents will be needed to take action against a senior police officer," Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K P Bakshi told PTI.
"The incumbent DGP (Dixit) has been given the responsibility of submitting a fresh report with corresponding documents now. We are expecting a report within the next 15 days," Bakshi said.
Refuting media reports on the alleged involvement of a senior police officer in delaying the Sheena murder probe, Bakshi had earlier said the government had received no official communication from the CBI on the issue.

"The state government, within two days of transferring the probe to the investigating agency, ensured that it gets all the logistical support it needs," he said.
"The government's assistance to CBI on the directions of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and their swiftness in taking the case forward led to the premier investigation agency filing the charge sheet before time," he said.
Rahul said, "Charges against him (Peter) are absolutely
outrageous," as he emerged from the CBI office in South Mumbai, where he spent last night after requesting the sleuths to let him do so.
Rahul had yesterday said that Peter's arrest had come as a "shock" for him.

"I don't believe he knew (anything about the murder.. otherwise I wouldn't be here," he told reporters outside a court.
The probe agency had also told the magistrate court that Peter was in continuous conversation with Indrani prior to, during and after the gruesome murder.
Suggesting a financial angle to her murder in April 2012, the charge sheet said fear of Sheena inheriting the entire property of Indrani and her husband in the event of the victim's marriage to Rahul was the prime motive for Indrani to do away with her daughter.
Indrani, who was said to have a soft corner for Vidhie, her daughter by former husband and co-accused Sanjeev Khanna, feared that the entire property might go to Sheena and Rahul if they were married, the charge sheet said.

In this context, the charge sheet added, "she planned a conspiracy with Khanna and her driver Shyam Rai to kill Sheena Bora".
CBI stated that Indrani had "used" Mekhail to separate
Sheena and Rahul. She also asked Mekhail to message Sheena in order to force the latter to break up with Rahul, but Sheena didn't comply.
This is first time that Mekhail's statement was recorded by CBI in the case. It was suspected that Indrani also wanted to eliminate Mekhail to keep her actual relationship with him under wraps.
In April 2012, Mekhail had received a call from Rai telling him that a "lot of money" was lying in house of Indrani in Mumbai and she was not in India, and he could come and take money if interested. However, Mekhail sensed something was amiss and refused to come.

In the same month, Indrani called Mekhail to Mumbai.
As per CBI, after reaching her house in Worli, Indrani offered Mekhail an alcoholic drink and asked Rai to bring some food from a nearby restaurant.
When Indrani insisted him to finish the drink faster, Mekhail grew suspicious even as he stated feeling uncomfortable. When Rai returned, he was with Khanna and spoke with Indrani separately.
Mekhail became apprehensive recalling his last experience with Khanna. Also that night, Mekhail had his food, but did not sleep despite Indrani's requests. He also bolted door of room from inside against Indrani's instructions, the agency said quoting Mekhail's statement.

Mekhail was not aware that Sheena was killed before he reached Indrani's place, but he observed that the behaviour of the trio was not normal.
Mekhail was also apprehensive that Indrani was planning to kill him and had called him from Guwahati, apparently to carry out her plan.
He stated Indrani had earlier taken help of doctors to declare him "insane" so as to prevent him for revealing his actual relationship with Indrani.
Indrani had also gone to Sheena's accommodation and tried to mislead her roommate, saying that Rahul took drugs and requested the roommate to persuade Sheena to break up with Rahul.

The agency stated that Peter and Indrani were part of the plot to murder Sheena as they were against her relationship with Rahul.