Mumbai: A special court in Mumbai on Tuesday (20th February) dismissed the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) petition to prevent the airing of a documentary series centered on Indrani Mukerjea, the main suspect in the infamous Sheena Bora murder case. The series, titled “The Indrani Mukerjea Story: The Buried Truth,” is set to explore the mysterious disappearance and subsequent murder of 25-year-old Sheena Bora, with a scheduled release on Netflix on February 23.
The CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) on Saturday moved an application before a special court in Mumbai seeking a stay on a documentary series on Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the Sheena Bora murder case.
The plea, submitted through public prosecutor C J Nandode, sought to
“issue direction to accused and others concerned for staying/stopping the featuring of the accused persons and the persons connected with the case in the documentary by Netflix and its broadcasting on any platform till the conclusion of the ongoing trial.”
This move by the CBI underscores the sensitive nature of the case and the potential implications of the documentary’s content on the trial’s integrity and public perception.
Sheena Bora’s murder, a case that has seen numerous twists and turns, involves her being allegedly strangled in a car by her mother Indrani Mukerjea, Indrani’s former driver Shyamvar Rai, and ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna in April 2012. The case, which remained a mystery for years, came to light in 2015 following Rai’s arrest in a separate case, leading to his confession about the murder. The revelation of Bora being Indrani’s daughter from a previous relationship added another layer of complexity to the already convoluted case.
Indrani Mukerjea’s arrest in August 2015 and her subsequent bail in May 2022, along with the bail granted to the other accused, has kept public interest in the case alive. The court’s recent ruling not to interfere with the documentary’s release reflects the judiciary’s stance on the freedom of expression and the media’s role in covering high-profile criminal cases.
As the documentary prepares to shed new light on the Sheena Bora murder case, the court’s decision reinforces the importance of allowing the story to be told, while the legal proceedings continue to seek justice for the victim. This case exemplifies the delicate balance between the right to a fair trial and the public’s right to information, a balance that remains at the forefront of legal and societal discourse.
The CBI’s request was turned down by CBI special judge S P Naik-Nimbalkar, who stated that the court lacks the “inherent power” to halt the broadcast of the documentary. The judge further advised the CBI to seek recourse at an appropriate forum if deemed necessary. This decision came after the prosecution failed to present any legal basis that would warrant such a directive to stop the airing of the documentary, which features interviews and insights into the case that has captivated the nation.
Rai, Khanna and Peter Mukerjea are also out on bail in the case.
Indrani was held in August 2015 and received bail in May 2022.
Bora’s murder came to light in 2015 after driver Shyamvar Rai revealed the incident following his arrest in another case.
