Assam: Missing evidence in Sheena Bora murder case resurfaces
Mumbai: In a significant development in the high-profile Sheena Bora murder case, human bones reported missing from the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) storeroom have been found.
The CBI announced this discovery to the special CBI court on Wednesday, confirming that the skeletal remains, previously declared untraceable, had resurfaced.
This revelation emerged during the ongoing trial when forensic expert Dr Zeba Khan appeared for questioning.
The sudden reappearance of the bones followed last month's statement by Public Prosecutor CJ Nandode, who had reported them missing.
During the court session, Special CBI Judge SP Naik Nimbalkar revealed receiving an email and a hard copy of a complaint purportedly from Dr Khan's brother.
The complaint alleged that Dr Khan had acquired substantial wealth and properties abroad, implying her possible collusion with the accused in the case, which might explain the evidence's disappearance.
Judge Nimbalkar considered the allegations serious and recommended an investigation.
Defense attorneys Ranjeet Sangle, Manjula Rao, and Shreyansh Mithare, representing Indrani Mukerjea, Peter Mukerjea, and Sanjeev Khanna, respectively, supported this call for a probe.
Despite these serious accusations, Nandode requested time to seek instructions and later returned to court, confirming the bones were indeed in the CBI storeroom.
However, he stated that the CBI no longer intended to use the bones as evidence, urging the court to proceed with Dr Khan's cross-examination without further delay.
The defense pressed for the bones to be presented in court, but the judge ruled it unnecessary since the CBI had opted not to rely on them.
Dr Khan's cross-examination concluded by the end of the day, but the defense reiterated their demand for an investigation into the allegations against Khan, stressing their importance to the case.
Judge Nimbalkar announced that a formal decision on the investigation would be issued on Thursday.
The CBI's case asserts that Sheena Bora was murdered in 2012 by her mother, Indrani Mukerjea, with the assistance of her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamwar Rai.
The body was allegedly transported to Pen village and incinerated. Peter Mukerjea is accused of being part of the conspiracy.
The skeletal remains, found by Pen police in 2012, were sent to JJ Hospital for examination.
The case remained unresolved until Rai's arrest in 2015, which led to the discovery of the alleged murder, with Rai subsequently becoming an approver.