Indrani Mukerjea 'admits' to role in Sheena murder; Peter quizzed again

Mumbai, Sep 3: Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora, has "confessed" to her role in it, while her former live-in partner Siddharth Das today joined the investigation in the sensational crime committed three years ago.

Indrani has "confessed" to her role in the crime, a senior police officer said without providing further details. Indrani's husband Peter Mukerjea underwent a second round of marathon questioning by the police which also interrogated two other arrested accused--her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyam Rai.

Peter, the former Star India CEO reached Khar police station around 11:30 in the morning and the questioning was still in progress. Das, who claimed to be Sheena's biological father, was flown down to Mumbai from Kolkata this evening and is understood to have been brought face-to-face with the accused.

Since her arrest late last month, Indrani had been maintaining that Sheena was very much alive and living in the US. Besides his wife, Peter was brought face-to-face with Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyam Rai, both of whom are alleged to have actively participated in commission of the offence.

Today's interrogation is being supervised by DCP Satya Narayan Chaudhary. Peter was questioned for nearly 12 hours yesterday. Meanwhile, senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani, who is giving legal advice to Peter Mukerjea, said he was not aware of Indrani's confession.

"One or two channels are saying with full fanfare that Indrani has confessed today. Indrani's lawyer is sitting in my office and she does not know (about the confession). Only the police and press know. Why do you ask me then?" he told the media.

Jethmalani's junior Gunjan Mangala is representing Indrani in the case. Jethmalani said he was not aware of what defence could be made of Indrani as her lawyer, who is his junior, has not been given "free and private" access to her client.

Every time she (the lawyer) met Indrani, it was in the presence of 5-6 police officers, he said, adding "as far as Mr Peter Mukerjea is concerned, the question of defending him does not arise because he is not an accused".

Some of the questions posed to Peter pertained to his financial transactions, especially his investments, his share in various companies, and how much money he had given to Indrani, son Rahul, step-daughter Sheena, and younger step- daughter Vidhie, who is Indrani's daughter from her previous marriage.

Sheena was engaged to Rahul, Peter's son from an earlier marriage, when she was allegedly murdered on April 24, 2012.

PTI