HC quashes special court nod to Indrani Mukerjea to travel abroad

The CBI had petitioned against the special court order on the grounds that Mukerjea was facing trial for a serious offence and that there was a possibility of her fleeing the country

The Bombay High Court on Friday (September 27, 2024) has set aside the special court’s order that permitted Indrani Mukherjea to travel to Spain and the U.K.

A single bench judge, Justice Shyam Chandak, refused to grant her permission and pronounced the verdict on a plea filed by the CBI. Mukerjea is accused of killing her daughter Sheena Bora. She wanted to travel abroad for paying her property tax, updating her bank accounts and will by removing her ex-husband Peter Mukherjea from the documents.

The CBI had petitioned against the special court order on the grounds that Mukerjea was facing trial for a serious offence and that there was a possibility of her fleeing the country

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“The petition is allowed. The impugned order is set aside,” the court said.

A special CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) court had on July 19 allowed Mukerjea to travel once to Europe (Spain and UK) for ten days between intermittent periods over the next three months.

Justice Chandak said that if Indrani Mukerjea wants to carry out the work from India then the statutory authority concern shall help her.

The bench clarified that it has not made any remark on the merits of the case but has only noted that the special court order was not reasonable, and hence unsustainable.

While granting permission, the special court had also laid down certain conditions for Indrani Mukerjea.

During her foreign travel, she would attend the office of the Indian Embassy or its allied diplomatic mission offices at least once during her visit and obtain an attendance certificate, the court had said.

The court also directed her to furnish a security deposit of ₹2 lakh.

Sheena Bora murder

Indrani Mukerjea was arrested in August 2015 after the murder of Sheena Bora came to light. She walked out of jail in May 2022 on being granted bail by the Supreme Court.

Bora (24) was allegedly strangled to death in a car by Indrani Mukerjea, her then-driver Shyamvar Rai and former husband Sanjeev Khanna in April 2012 in Mumbai. Her body was then burnt in a forest in the neighbouring Raigad district, as per the prosecution.

Bora was Indrani Mukerjea’s daughter from a previous relationship.

The killing came to light only in 2015 when Rai disclosed it during interrogation by police after his arrest in a separate case registered under the Arms Act.

Indrani’s ex-husband Peter Mukerjea was also arrested for allegedly being a part of the conspiracy linked to Sheena Bora’s murder.

All the accused are currently out on bail. The CBI probed the Bora murder case.

(With inputs from PTI)

Published - September 27, 2024 02:13 pm IST