No Guarantee of Your Return: Supreme Court Rejects Indrani Mukerjea's Plea

The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by Indrani Mukerjea, a key accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, seeking permission to travel abroad. A bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal upheld the Bombay High Court's order denying her permission. The Supreme Court also directed the trial court to complete the case proceedings within a year.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court made significant remarks, stating, "There is no guarantee that you will return from abroad. The trial is in its final stage. At this point, we cannot consider your request. We are instructing the trial court to expedite the proceedings and conclude them within a year." However, the bench allowed Mukerjea to approach the trial court regarding her concerns.

The CBI opposed her plea, arguing that it is a sensitive case, and the investigation is more than halfway through, with 96 witnesses already examined. Mukerjea’s lawyer contended that while the Supreme Court had granted her bail, 92 more witnesses are yet to be examined. The lawyer also expressed concerns that the trial court had made no significant progress in the last four months, potentially delaying the proceedings further.

Previously, on July 19, a special court had permitted Mukerjea to travel to Spain and the UK. However, after the CBI challenged this decision in the Bombay High Court, the order was overturned. Mukerjea then approached the Supreme Court to contest the High Court’s ruling.

Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the 2012 murder of her daughter Sheena Bora, was arrested in 2015 and remained in jail until 2022, when the Supreme Court granted her bail with conditions.