Sheena Bora murder case: CBI records statements of top cops

MUMBAI The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) recorded the statement of the Director General of police (Home Guards) Rakesh Maria, former Mumbai commissioner who allegedly investigated the Sheena Bora murder case. CBI also recorded statements of joint commissioner of police (Law and Order) Deven Bharti and deputy commissioner of police Satyanarayan Chaudhary.

Confirming the development, CBI officials said all three officers were interviewed and their statements were recorded. Maria was questioned to find out if the former police commissioner knew media baron Peter Mukherjea and why did he visit Khar police station on four different occasions, said CBI sources. Maria categorically told CBI officials he met Peter for the first time on September 7, 2015, at Khar police station with a group of police officers, including the joint commissioner of police (law and order), deputy commissioner of police and other investigators, said CBI sources.

To the question on why he had personally visited Khar police station on four different occasions, Maria told CBI officials that he had visited the police station on the first two occasions because Mumbai police believed

ential would hire a battery of top lawyers, and the force wanted to ensure an equally competent lawyer to defend the prosecution case to ensure conviction, said CBI sources.

On the first occasion after a meeting was held between top police officials at Khar police station, the name of advocate Vaibhav Baghade was taken into consideration. Baghade too was called to the police station for his opinion on the case, said CBI sources. Maria said he visited the police station to ensure the veracity of Shyamwar Rai’s statement as Rai was to be made

was the third time he did so. The fourth occasion was on September 7, 2015, when Maria had gone to Khar police station to question Peter personally, said CBI sources.

However, he was transferred the next day. After which Ahmed Javed was appointed as the Mumbai police commissioner. But a few days later it came to the fore that Javed knew the Mukerjea’s socially and the state government unaware of it. Former DGP Sanjeev Dayal, who reviewed the case, recommended it be transferred to the CBI following which the state did