Sheena Bora murder: CBI has no objection to Shyamwar Rai turning approver

In an important development that could spell more trouble for those who stand accused of murdering Sheena Bora, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday told the court that it did not have any objection to Shyamwar Rai turning approver in the case.

The CBI told this to special CBI judge H.S. Mahajan while replying to the application filed by Rai, former driver of accused Indrani Mukerjea, expressing desire to turn approver in the sensational murder case.

Soon after the CBI counsels Bharat Badami and Kavita Patil filed a reply on Rai’s application, Indrani’s lawyer Gunjan Mangala requested the court to grant her time to file a response on behalf of her client because a copy of the CBI reply was provided to them on Monday itself. Considering this plea, the judge allowed her to her file reply on June 9 and also said that he would pass the order on Rai’s application the same day after hearing arguments. The judge also extended judicial custody of all the accused till June 20.

It will be recalled that Rai, on May 11, had personally told Mr Mahajan that he wanted to become an approver in the case and reveal everything about the murder out of repentance. He had also told the court that he knew details of the crime because he was part of it and Sheena had been killed by strangulation.

Following this the court asked the CBI to file its reply on Rai’s application and whether or not the agency wished to accept his proposal.

Earlier, Rai had written a two-page letter to the court seeking pardon in the case, following which the judge had called Rai in the witness box and sought to know if the letter was indeed written by him and what was the reason behind his wanting to admit his guilt. On this, Rai had said that he was telling truth out of repentance.

The fact that Sheena was killed came to light after Rai was picked up in connection with an illegal arms case, after which he spilled the beans.

Apart from Indrani, her husband Peter Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and Rai are the accused in this case.