Special CBI court rejects Indrani Mukerjea's bail plea; says she's safe in jail

In another setback to Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, a special CBI court on Friday rejected her bail plea. In the month of August, Indrani Mukerjea had filed the bail application in the court on the grounds that she is facing ill health and also that there is a threat to her life on account of her being one of the prime witnesses in an ongoing corruption case.

The CBI had opposed her bail plea in the court saying that Indrani, along with her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamvar Rai, had killed Sheena Bora. It was a cold-blooded murder and that's why she should not get leniency from the court on the health issue, the CBI said.

The CBI claims that there is also a possibility that if she gets bail then she might abscond, and added that there is an apprehension that if she comes out on bail then she might influence witnesses and tamper with evidence. 

READ | Sheena Bora’s Brother Mikhail Deposes In Court, Says “was Tortured At Indrani’s Behest”. Read His Full Statement Here

After hearing both parties, the judge said in his judgment that on the issue of threat to Indrani's life, 'I believe she is safe in jail..she has been kept under 24hrs security. There is a separate cell for her and if required, jail authorities can increase security.' 

'If she comes out of jail then she will be more vulnerable as there will not be any security. Therefore, the application claiming that there is a threat to her life is exaggerated and unacceptable.' 

This is not the first time that Indrani's bail plea was rejected.  

In April, Indrani had suddenly got very ill and was brought to JJ Hospital in a semi-conscious state. Since this incident, Indrani has claimed that her life is in danger. Byculla jail officials have increased her security. 

CBI claims that Indrani had allegedly killed her daughter Sheena in 2012 and kept this secret for three years, but in August 2015, Indrani’s driver Shyamvar Rai was arrested in an illegal weapons case by the Khar Road police and during the interrogation, he revealed that his boss Indrani had killed Sheena. After this, Mumbai police arrested Indrani and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna also. Later on, the case was transferred to the CBI, who arrested the fourth accused, Peter Mukerjea, in the case.