The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a fresh plea by Indrani Mukerjea, accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, seeking to travel abroad
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain a fresh plea by Indrani Mukerjea, accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, seeking permission to travel abroad, reiterating that she must approach the trial court for any such relief. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh told senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for Mukerjea, that the apex court had already made it clear earlier that any request related to foreign travel should be moved before the trial court where the case is pending. Jethmalani argued that Mukerjea’s earlier plea had not been decided on merits and that there was urgency this time. The bench, however, clarified that its previous order was only meant to allow her to seek relief from the trial court, not to approach the Supreme Court again. “In view of the above, we grant liberty to the petitioner to file an application before the trial court, which shall be decided in accordance with our earlier order. Considering the urgency, the application may be disposed of within four weeks,” the court said. Last year, on February 12, the top court had dismissed Mukerjea’s plea to travel abroad, noting there was no assurance she would return. It had also directed the trial court to expedite proceedings, observing that the case was at an advanced stage.
The issue reached the Supreme Court after a special court in July 2024 allowed Mukerjea to travel to Spain and the United Kingdom for 10 days. The Bombay High Court later set aside that order in September 2024 following an appeal by the CBI. Mukerjea had challenged the high court’s decision in the apex court and has now filed a fresh plea seeking permission to travel overseas. She was arrested in August 2015 after the murder of her daughter, Sheena Bora, came to light and was granted bail by the Supreme Court in May 2022 after spending over six years in custody.
She has denied all allegations. According to the prosecution, Bora, 24, was strangled in a car in Mumbai in April 2012, allegedly by Mukerjea along with her then driver Shyamvar Rai and former husband Sanjeev Khanna. Her body was later burnt in a forest in neighbouring Raigad district. The case surfaced after Rai allegedly disclosed details during interrogation in an unrelated Arms Act case. Mukerjea’s former husband Peter Mukerjea was also arrested for alleged involvement in the conspiracy. All accused are currently out on bail.
