Process to issues notification on CBI hand over of Sheena case underway

Mumbai, Sept 19: A day after Maharashtra Government decided to hand over the sensational Sheena Bora murder case to CBI [Sheena Bora murder case: Maharashtra Govt hands over probe to CBI], the Home Department today said process of issuing notification for the same is underway.

"We have contacted Central government officials and a notification would be issued after we get confirmation of acceptance of the case by CBI", an official in the state Home department said.

In a new twist, the decision to hand over the case to CBI was announced at a press meet here yesterday by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) K P Bakshi, after 10 days of flip-flop over the supervisory role of former Mumbai police chief Rakesh Maria, who was unceremoniously removed from the post on September 8 and was replaced by Ahmad Javed.

"Formalities have been completed. We have contacted the Central Government officials. The decision of the Centre will be accepted by the state," Bakshi had said.

Maria's transfer had left a question mark over his continued role in the probe.

Though the Maharashtra government, within hours of shunting him out as Mumbai Police Commissioner, said that Maria would continue to supervise the probe after the decision generated much heat in media and political circles, ambiguity persisted on the actual role.

Sheena was murdered on April 24, 2012, and her body was burnt and disposed of in the forest in Raigad district the next day.

Apart from Sheena's mother Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamver Rai were arrested in the case and are now in judicial custody after being interrogated for 14 days by police.

PTI