Mumbai, Aug 26 (Hindustan Times) : A murder case involving 9X Media founder Indrani Mukerjea, arrested for allegedly killing her sister three years ago, took a curious turn on Wednesday when it emerged that the victim was her daughter from an earlier marriage.
Police arrested Indrani, the wife of former Star India CEO Peter Mukerjea, on Tuesday on charges of murdering her “sister” Sheena Bora in 2012 and dumping the body in the ravines of Raigad district in Maharashtra.
Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria said Sheena was Indrani’s daughter from her previous marriage and not her sister.
In yet another twist to the case, Peter Mukerjea told CNN-IBN news channel that he had been told Sheena was sent to the US because she was in a relationship with Rahul Mukerjea, his son from his first marriage, that Indrani did not approve of.
Police officials said Indrani and her driver Shyam Manav Manohar Rai were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly murdering Bora and disposing of the body in Raigad in 2012. Both are in police custody till August 31.
Rai, 43, told police about the alleged murder when he was recently arrested in connection with a case under the Arms Act.
Peter Mukerjea further told CNN-IBN he was introduced to Sheena and her brother Mikhail Bora as Indrani’s sister and brother. The Boras and Indrani often spoke in Assamese and he could not follow their conversations, he said.
He said he had not spoken to Indrani since her arrest and that he was not aware of any dispute over assets and property between Indrani and her children.
Peter Mukerjea said he believed Indrani’s family had decided to send Sheena to the US because of her relationship with his son Rahul. He added Rahul had told him several times there was “something fishy” about the reports that Sheena had been sent to the US.
His wedding with Indrani in 2002 was attended by only one of her relatives, Peter Mukerjea said. “I was 16 years older and there was a disagreement and I was told that her parents didn’t want to meet (me),” he said.
Indrani had also turned down his suggestions that they should visit Assam and her hometown Guwahati, he added.
Indrani’s son Mikhail Bora told CNN-IBN from Guwahati that he and Sheena had been told by their grandparents that Indrani was their mother. They didn’t question Indrani about the matter because she provided money to run the household and pay for their education, he said.
“She never used to meet us. Just every month, she used to send a little funding to run the house,” Mikhail said.
He said Sheena had gone to Mumbai after passing out of Class 12.
Police have said a financial dispute was the likely motive behind Sheena’s murder.
"We have arrested Indrani Mukerjea and her driver for murder and other charges under sections 302, 201 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code," deputy commissioner of police Dhananjay Kulkarni said.
Authorities detained Rai on August 21 following a tip-off from an informer and found an illegal weapon in his possession. Officials said he confessed to killing Sheena during interrogation.
Police then called Indrani in and arrested her after several hours of questioning. A court remanded both of them in police custody till August 31.
Earlier, Peter Mukerjea said, “Whatever cooperation that the police require from the family, we will provide. We hope the whole issue would be resolved early.”
In 2012, Raigad police found Sheena’s remains, following which a murder case was registered against unidentified people. A police team from Mumbai recently went to Raigad and recovered some bones from a spot identified by Rai.
Police sources said the process of recreating the sequence of events and finding corroborative evidence had been complicated by the fact that so much time had passed since the murder.
Indrani and Peter Mukerjea married in 2002, when she was an HR consultant and he was CEO of Star India. They established 9X Media in 2007 – Indrani was the CEO and Peter the chairman. They both quit INX Media in 2009.