Guwahati, May 10: A special Central Bureau of Investigation court in Mumbai has rejected a plea filed by Indrani Mukerjea seeking permission to travel to Spain and the United Kingdom for two weeks, observing that she could be a “flight risk” as the decade-old Sheena Bora murder case trial approaches completion.
Special judge J P Darekar noted that only a few witnesses remain to be examined and the case has reached a crucial stage. The court observed that Mukerjea is a UK national and owns immovable properties in both the UK and Spain, adding that the prosecution’s apprehension regarding the possibility of her not returning “cannot be ruled out”.
Mukerjea had sought the release of her passport and permission to travel abroad, claiming she was facing severe financial hardship as her bank accounts in the UK and Spain had remained dormant for nearly a decade. Through her counsel, she argued that her physical presence was required for biometric verification and reactivation of the accounts.
The plea further stated that she needed to update a will registered in Malaga, Spain, to remove former husband Peter Mukerjea as a beneficiary following their divorce. Mukerjea also claimed that the ongoing day-to-day trial had prevented her from taking up gainful employment, resulting in continuing financial distress.
Opposing the application, the CBI argued that the plea lacked merit and that Mukerjea had failed to establish any urgent or unavoidable circumstances warranting foreign travel. The agency informed the court that authorities in Spain and the UK had already assured assistance in helping her complete the necessary formalities.
The court also pointed out that Mukerjea had not produced documents showing confirmed appointments with banks or municipal authorities abroad. Judge Darekar additionally questioned her claims of financial hardship, noting that she had deposited Rs 2 lakh in court while seeking permission for travel.
The order follows several earlier unsuccessful attempts by Mukerjea to secure permission for overseas travel. The Supreme Court of India had previously observed that there was “no guarantee” she would return if allowed to leave the country and had directed the trial court to expedite proceedings.
Mukerjea was arrested in 2015 after the murder of Sheena Bora came to light. According to the prosecution, Bora was strangled inside a car in 2012 allegedly by Mukerjea, former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamvar Rai before her body was allegedly burnt in a forest area in Raigad district. The case surfaced after Rai reportedly disclosed details of the crime while being questioned in an unrelated Arms Act case.
