As the probe in the Sheena Bora murder gathers pace with accused Sanjiv Khanna confessing to his complicity, here are the latest updates in the murder that has gripped the nation.
Sheena Bora’s brother’s claim of being the next target it appears to be true. According to sources, Indrani Mukerjea's former husband and one of the three accused in the murder, Sanjeev Khanna has confirmed Bora's claims.
Sources say that Bora, who was brought to Mumbai from his hometown Guwahati, told interrogators that he was staying at the same hotel in Worli in south Mumbai as Khanna on April 24, 2012, the day his sister was strangled before being set on fire.
He claimed that his mother had called him to Mumbai to discuss financial matters, say sources. Bora alleged that he was offered a drink laced with sedatives at the hotel. After he started feeling groggy, he told cops that he grew suspicious and managed to escape.
************
According to a report in the Telegraph, Mikhail Bora had emailed his sister Sheena Bora’s resignation letter to her employer 13 days after her purported death, a relative claimed on Saturday.
“He did it at his mother Indrani Mukerjea’s behest,” the relative from her mother’s side told The Telegraph .
A senior police officer echoed the relative’s claim. “Not just the letter of resignation, Mikhail also sent a letter to Sheena’s landlord in Mumbai in July 2012, cancelling the lease of the rental apartment. He posted a picture of his mother Indrani on Sheena’s Facebook page on February 11, 2014. Sheena’s LinkedIn profile was kept in operation by Mikhail till two weeks ago,” the officer said.
The resignation letter was sent to her employers on May 7, 2012, and the letter to her landlord sometime in July 2012.
*************
In a significant development, Mumbai Police have recovered the car used in the murder of Sheena Bora in April 2012, ANI reported on Saturday.
*************
Sheena Bora and Rahul Mukerjea got engaged in Dehradun in 2011, according to reports. It is being said that Sheena Bora, daughter of Indrani Mukerjea from earlier and Rahul, son of Peter Mukerjea from an earlier marriage were engaged to be married. Sources said that Rahul has told the police about engagement. They also said that Indrani was not present at the ceremony.
**********
According to a report in the Mumbai Mirror, Peter Mukerjea told investigators on Friday that Sheena had warned him on several occasions that her mother was hiding far too many things from him. He refused to be questioned alongside Indrani and her driver at Khar Police Station, instead gave a written statement
Peter added that he regrets not taking his son Rahul seriously when he complained about Indrani’s aggressive behaviour, days before Sheena disappeared.
Rahul Mukerjea has reportedly told the police that Sheena’s passport is in his possession. He also said that Indrani used to throw a fit when he asked her how Sheena could have gone to the US when he had her passport.
***********
The focus in the murder case has now shifted to the forensic analysis of the skeletal remains found in Raigad district where Sheena's body was allegedly dumped three years ago.
“We have sent the bones and other skeletal remains for forensic analysis and are awaiting report,” a police official said.
**************
Late on Friday night, Sanjeev Khanna, former husband of Indrani Mukerjea, confessed to his complicity in the crime during a joint interrogation of three accused on a day the victim's skeleton remains were recovered.
Khanna had earlier claimed that he was sleeping when 24-year-old Sheena was murdered and found her dead in the vehicle.
