New Delhi, July 11: Weeks after informing the court that parts of Sheena Bora’s purported skeleton were untraceable, the prosecution on Wednesday revealed that the remains were at the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in New Delhi. Sheena Bora, 24, was allegedly murdered by her mother, Indrani Mukerjea, and others in 2012.
The disclosure occurred on the same day the trial court in Mumbai received an email alleging that Sheena’s bones were not missing but were with a forensic expert who had examined the skeleton and was currently testifying as a witness. Special CBI judge S.P. Naik Nimbalkar informed defense lawyers about the email, who then requested an investigation into the claim. The judge sought a response from the central probe agency.
On April 24, the prosecution told the court that Sheena Bora’s remains were untraceable. On June 10, they confirmed they still could not be found. However, weeks later, the prosecution informed the trial court that the remains were located at the CBI’s office, as reported by PTI. This revelation was followed by an email asserting that Sheena’s bones were with a forensic expert who had examined them and was now testifying in court.
The prosecution noted that the CBI did not include these remains as evidence in the chargesheet and preferred to proceed without documenting them officially. Following this, the court resumed the cross-examination of the forensic expert.
Judge S.P. Naik Nimbalkar informed the defense lawyers present in court about the email. After reviewing it, the lawyers requested an investigation into the allegation. The judge then sought a response from the central probe agency.
Prosecutor C.J. Nandode confirmed that the bones were found in the office ‘malkhana’ after another search. The CBI did not rely on these articles as evidence, as they were not cited in the chargesheet and preferred to proceed without bringing them on record. The court then resumed the cross-examination of the forensic expert.
Indrani Mukerjea, a former media executive and the primary accused in the case, is currently out on bail. The murder came to light in 2015, three years after Sheena was allegedly strangled in a car by her mother, with the assistance of Indrani’s former husband, Sanjeev Khanna, and driver, Shyamvar Rai, in April 2012. The body was allegedly burnt in a forest in Raigad district. Sheena Bora was Indrani’s daughter from a previous relationship.
Indrani Mukerjea claimed that no skeleton remains were discovered in 2012, describing the narrative as a “concocted story.” Mukerjea also suggested that Rahul Mukerjea, Sheena Bora’s fiancé, should be arrested for questioning regarding the murder case, highlighting that he was the last person known to have seen Bora alive.
