Sheena Bora Murder Case: Special Court Directs CBI To Expedite Trial, Fixes Dates

Picture courtesy The Week

Mumbai: It’s been almost 8 years that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been investigating the Sheena Bora murder case after taking over from Mumbai Police.

On Friday, CBI was directed to expedite the trial against prime accused, Sheena’s mother Indrani Mukerjea, and others involved in murdering her.

Sheena, then 24, was allegedly strangled to death in a car by Indrani, her Shyamvar Rai and former husband Sanjeev Khanna in April 2012 in Mumbai. Her body was burnt in a forest in the neighbouring Raigad district, according to the prosecution.

Hearing an application filed by Indrani earlier this month, special CBI judge SP Naik Nimbalkar passed an order today after hearing both parties.

“With the consent of all the parties, hereafter, dates of the proceedings are fixed on every first Thursday and first Friday and every third Thursday and third Friday of each month,” the court said.

The order further stated that parties are at liberty to adjust the dates in case of any emergency and the CBI must provide names of the witnesses, who are to be examined on fixed dates, in advance.

In her petition, Indrani had requested the trial be conducted on a day-to-day or weekly basis, emphasising the need for expeditious proceedings. She also pointed out that over more than seven years, during which she had been an under-trial prisoner, the CBI had examined 71 witnesses and provided a list of 92 additional witnesses for the trial.