Indrani’s driver confesses to role, could be made approver in case
Shyamvar Rai says murder planned by Indrani, executed by her former husband Sanjeev Khanna
Former media tycoon Indrani Mukerjea’s driver has confessed to his role in the sensational murder of Sheena Bora before a special CBI court and could be made an approver in the case, sources said on Thursday.
In his confessional statement, driver Shyamvar Rai has said Sheena’s murder was plotted and planned by her mother Indrani and executed by Sanjeev Khanna, Indrani’s ex-husband.
Rai’s statement was recorded last week after he wrote to the court, saying he wanted to reveal the truth related to the murder.
But the special CBI court refused to record his statement on October 27, observing procedural lapses. It was finally recorded on November 8.
Rai’s statement is crucial to the case because his arrest had led police to unearth the murder.
Shyamvar Rai, following a tip-off from an informer of being in possession of a 7.65mm pistol, was arrested by Khar police. He later confessed to the murder.
Excerpts from Rai’s state- ment reveal Indrani took Rai to conduct a reconnaissance near Gagode village in Pen Tehsil of Raigad district on April 23, 2012, a day before Sheena was murdered by Khanna.
The driver told police Indrani had a long conversation with Khanna on April 23 over the phone and booked a hotel room.
Khanna arrived in Mumbai and stayed at the hotel the next day, he said. At around 7 pm, Indrani and Sanjeev went to Bandra, picked up Sheena, and drove to Raigad.
But the sequence of events between the pick-up and Sheena’s strangulation has been missing from Rai’s statement. He stated Sheena was strangulated by Khanna, and he put the body in a bag with Indrani’s help.
Rai said he then drove to a thickly-forested place near Gagode village where petrol was poured on the bag and put on fire.
The body was destroyed around 4 am on April 25. They left the place only after Indrani and Khanna were assured the bag had been completely burnt without any remains, Rai told police officials.