Sheena murder: Peter's plea to defer charge-framing rejected

Mumbai: A special CBI court here today rejected an application filed by the former media baron Peter Mukerjea opposing commencement of framing of charges in the Sheena Bora murder case.

Peter had contended that framing of charges should be deferred as the CBI's investigation was not yet complete.

"Other two accused (Peter's wife Indrani and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna) are in judicial custody for more than a year. Both the accused are ready and willing to argue the case. In such circumstances, (it's) not desirable to cause delay," judge H S Mahajan said, rejecting the application.

The court said it will start the hearing arguments on framing of charges on October 5.

Peter's lawyer Mihir Gheewala had argued that CBI should give an assurance that it would not rely on any other document (which may be found during subsequent probe) if the framing of charges was to start.

However, the CBI lawyer said its power to continue the investigation cannot be curtailed.

Indrani, her former driver Shyam Rai (who has been made an approver in the case) and Khanna allegedly strangled Sheena (24), Indrani's daughter from earlier relationship, inside a car on April 24, 2012.

The trio were arrested in August 2015 after Rai told the police about the murder when he was picked up and questioned by the cops in another case.

CBI arrested Peter in November, saying that he too was a part of the murder conspiracy.

According to CBI's charge sheet, dispute over financial dealings within the family led to Sheena's murder.