‘Ample evidence of Peter’s guilt’

The prosecution in the Sheena Bora murder case on Wednesday concluded its arguments on the bail plea filed by former media baron Peter Mukerjea whose lawyer is likely to file a rejoinder to this on Thursday evening.

CBI counsels Bharat Badami and Kavita Patil have opposed Peter’s bail application. They claimed that there was ample evidence on record to show his involvement in the murder conspiracy and, as investigating agency would file more documents in the court in the future, he should not be granted bail.

In the meantime, Peter’s lawyer Abad Ponda has said that a letter written by Peter to his wife Indrani from jail, which has appeared in some newspapers, should not be considered against him. He clarified that Peter must have thought that his wife was alone on her birthday and very sick, and hence, he said something to her to make her happy.

Special CBI judge H.S. Mahajan is hearing the application filed by Peter and, during arguments, Peter’s lawyer claimed that he was unaware that Sheena had been murdered and put all the blame for her murder on Indrani. This is the second bail application filed by Peter, and the first one was filed on January 4. In the first bail application too he had blamed Indrani, but just a day before filing the bail, he had written a letter to her from jail wishing her on her birthday.

In this letter, Peter told Indrani how much he loved and missed her. He had even termed himself and her “Romeo and Juliet” and expressed a desire to see her soon.

Before closing his arguments, Mr Badami also said that the case was of murder conspiracy and the punishment for all the accused was the same. He said that though Peter was in London, he was in constant touch with his wife and was getting details about the murder.