Admits to role in killing of step-daughter; Sheena’s passport recovered from Rahul’s residence in Dehradun, negates claim about her having gone to US; Peter Mukherjea refuses to face Indrani in joint questioning .
Mumbai : The ex-husband of Indrani Mukherjea, Sanjeev Khanna, has confessed to his complicity in the Sheena murder case even as he has claimed that it was the driver and not Indrani who had strangulated the victim.
It is also understood that Indrani’s money had helped fund the purchase of Khanna’s flat and resort in West Bengal.
In another breakthrough, the murder victim Sheena’s passport has been recovered from Dehradun, where Rahul resides with his biological mother Shabnam, the former wife of TV honcho Peter Mukherjea. This debunks Indrani’s professed claim that Sheena Bora had gone to the US.
The police have also recovered charred remains from the alleged crime spot in Pen; the remains would be sent for DNA testing on Saturday. These samples would be matched with those of Indrani and that of Mikhail. The J. J. Hospital has also handed over some charred remains which were sent to it in 2012 by the Pen police.
Sheena’s brother Mikhail has also made some claims which expose Indrani’s attempts to create the impression that Sheena was alive and on a visit to the US. Mikhail had been making claims that he has evidence to prove why his mother killed Sheena but he would give it to police. His other statements about Peter Mukherjea are being verified.
Arrested in Kolkata two days ago by the Mumbai police, Khanna was brought here on Friday on transit remand and produced before the Bandra Magistrate’s Court. The police has slapped on him charges of murder, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence.
It is understood that after securing his remand, the police drove Khanna to the forests near Pen, where Sheena’s body was burnt and dumped on April 24, 2012. Later, they confronted him with the statements of the other accused.
All the accused in the case were at the same police station with Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria when reports last trickled in late at night. The police have recovered from Khanna his passport, which sources said, are stamped with one visa for Norway and the other for Ireland, which is being interpreted as a possible attempt to flee India. The police have also seized from Khanna his mobile phone, laptop and passport. A Mumbai court has remanded him in police custody till August 31.
In an attempt to unravel the web of deceit and sleaze, the police also questioned Peter Mukherjea after it rejected his written statement. The TV honcho refused to face Indrani during the joint interrogation and is likely to be called in again.
Gautam, the brother of Peter Mukherjea, was also call-ed in for questioning. A local court has, meanwhile, admitted the application filed by a lawyer of Indrani seeking permission to meet her. Indrani’s lawyer had moved the court contending that the police were not allowing her lawyers to meet her. While allowing the application, the court directed the police to follow the guidelines framed by the apex court on the rights of the accused.
