Oct 20 (Mumbai Mirror): Indrani Mukerjea's driver, Shyamvar Rai, has written to a metropolitan magistrate's court saying he wanted to reveal in the courtroom "the truth" about the Sheena Bora murder, in yet another twist to the complex case.

But Rai has not given any hint about what he wants to disclose. He sent the single-page letter, written in Hindi, directly to the court a few days ago instead of requesting his lawyer to submit it.

Rai is a crucial link in the case. After he was arrested for allegedly possessing an unlicensed firearm two months ago, he told the Khar police that he had helped Indrani and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna kill her 25-year-old daughter Sheena. The statement led to Indrani and Khanna's arrest. According to investigators, Sheena was strangled inside Indrani's car on April 24, 2012. Rai, Indrani and Khanna burned and buried her body in a Raigad forest the next day.

The metropolitan magistrate's court is yet to take a decision on Rai's request. It is likely to issue a warrant for his production in the courtroom.

"I have been told that Rai has sent an application saying he wants to tell the truth in the court," said Khanna's lawyer, Shreyansh Mithare.

The case has seen several twists, from early doubts over Sheena's true relation with Indrani and her parentage, to Indrani's claim that she is alive and well in the US. The murder came to light in August this year, but investigators so far have been unable to provide a clear motive.

The case was transferred to the CBI last month, shortly after Rakesh Maria was promoted and moved from the position of Mumbai police commissioner. Some had criticised Maria's active involvement in the case — he led the interrogation of the three suspects — saying there were more important cases that needed his attention.

On Monday, the CBI had planned to produce the three suspects in a special court and seek extension of their judicial custody. They could not be produced because of "technical reasons", but their judicial remand was extended till October 31.

The court also gave the CBI the permission to interrogate Indrani, Khanna and Rai in jail. The agency told the court they had found crucial information during searches conducted at various places on Monday and wanted to quiz the three in this regard.

CBI raids 10 locations

CBI officials on Monday seized documents and photographs while conducting search at 10 places in connection with the Sheena Bora murder case.

Three residences of Indrani and Peter Mukherjea in Mumbai and Goa; the house of accused driver Shyamvar Rai in Vakola; two homes of Indrani's ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna in Kolkata and one Alipore; Indrani's maternal house in Guwahati; Rai's ancestral home in Chhindwara (MP); and the Howrah house of Sandeep Sarkar, Indrani's friend, were the 10 places that were searched.

Sarkar runs a security agency in Kolkata and had provided a bodyguard for Indrani. The bodyguard had also been questioned in connection with the Sheena Bora murder case.

A CBI spokesperson said some important documents and photographs were recovered but refused to divulge any more.