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Sheena Bora case: Indrani Mukerjea's ex-driver seeks to become approver

The court later directed CBI to file its reply on May 17 over Rai's plea to turn approver in the case. It also asked Thane jail superintendent and Thane police commissioner to ensure that Rai is produced in the court on the next hearing.

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Sheena Bora (File picture)
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In a new twist in the sensational Sheena Bora murder case, Shyamvar Rai, former driver of key accused Indrani Mukerjea, sought to turn approver on Wednesday, saying he wants to "disclose all truths" as he was party to the crime – of killing her by strangulation. The development came after Rai, one of the accused in the case, wrote a two-paged letter to the court last week seeking pardon, while stating that he wants to reveal the truth.

On Wednesday, when special judge HS Mahajan called Rai in the box, he said, "I am aware about the acts connected with the commission of the offence." Recording his statement before a special CBI court, Rai said he was under "no pressure, threat or coercion" to reveal the facts in the case and was "repentant" about his act.

The judge questioned Rai if he had written the letter from the jail to which he replied in the affirmative. When the judge asked how Rai knew about the incident, he replied, "I was present at the time of murder and was a participant." Rai also told the court that Sheena was killed by strangulation.

The court later directed CBI to file its reply on May 17 over Rai's plea to turn approver in the case. It also asked Thane jail superintendent and Thane police commissioner to ensure that Rai is produced in the court on the next hearing.

Indrani, her husband Peter Mukerjea and her former husband Sanjeev Khanna were present in the court as Rai's statement was being recorded.

However, their lawyers said that even if the court accepts Rai's plea and makes him an approver, their case won't be affected.

"It's not CBI's case that Rai ever communicated with Peter during the course of murder and there's no evidence against him," said Peter's lawyer Mihir Gheewala.

Khanna's advocate, Shreyansh Mithare, too said that this new development won't have any impact on their case.

Indrani's lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani refused to comment, saying he will first have to go through the Rai's statement.

Two days ago, the court had castigated Thane jail officials for failing to produce Rai before it and had warned of contempt proceedings while directing them to bring him on Wednesday.

The court had also directed CBI to file its written submission on Peter Mukerjea's bail plea on May 13, failing which the court said it will fix the matter for passing the order. Peter's bail application had been rejected in the past.

While Peter (59) and Khanna are lodged in Arthur Road prison, Indrani (43) is in Byculla womens' jail.

Rai spilled the beans

Sheena Bora's murder came to light in August 2015 after Shyamvar Rai was picked up in connection with an arms case by Khar police and later spilled the beans about the murder. Rai last year had recorded his confessional statement before the magistrate under the provisions of section 164, which unlike the police statement, is admissible in the trial. Sheena (24), Indrani's daughter from an earlier relationship, was strangulated inside a car in April 2012. Her body was found in a forest in Raigad. The crime, which came to light in August, is allegedly linked to certain financial dealings. Indrani, Sanjeev and Rai were arrested in August last year by Khar police while Peter was arrested in November by the CBI after the case was transferred to them by the state government. According to CBI, Peter was part of the murder conspiracy.

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