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MUMBAI: Seeking bail for former media baron Peter Mukerjea, his advocate Abad Ponda on Thursday contended that there is no prima facie evidence to prove his association with the murder of Sheena Bora and that he should be granted bail before a sessions court.

Peter’s wife and Sheena’s mother, Indrani, is the prime accused in the murder.

Ponda said Peter was not against the relationship between Sheena and his son, Rahul, from an earlier marriage. “Peter was not against their relationship and, in fact, he blessed them when they got engaged,” Ponda said, adding that Indrani was against this relationship.

“It is because of (Peter’s) ‘karma’ and fate that he got Indrani as his wife,” Ponda said.

Arguing on the call data records where CBI alleged that Indrani and Peter were constantly in touch, Ponda said the calls were between a husband and a wife, and there was no evidence to show that Sheena was even mentioned in those conversations. “There is no transcript or any other evidence to show what they spoke on call,” Ponda argued.

“There is no evidence to show that the calls they exchanged had even a mention of Sheena. Further, after her death, Indrani made Peter

PETER MUKERJEA’S BAIL APPLICATION HAS BEEN REJECTED ONCE EARLIER AND HE WAS ARRESTED ON NOV 19 LAST YEAR

speak to Sheena. Whereas it was Kajal, Indrani’s secretary, who spoke to Peter as Sheena. No one in the family had reason to believe that someone had died. Even after Indrani’s arrest, Peter asked her for Sheena’s number. However, he realised things were not so easy,” Ponda argued.

Ponda read out all the emails exchanged by Peter with his son, his friend and other family members and said Peter was never against Sheena and Rahul’s relationship. “He was only against the fact that Rahul was staying with someone without marriage and he was not on his own. He wanted his son to stand on his feet. Is it wrong? In fact, he loved Sheena,” Ponda said.

The arguments will continue on Friday. Peter’s bail application has been rejected once earlier. He was arrested on November 19. and the other arrested accused are Indrani, Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyamvar Rai. The three allegedly strangled Sheena, Indrani’s daughter from a previous relationship, inside a car in April 2012.