Accused used Skype to discuss Sheena murder conspiracy: Mumbai cops

The probe into the Sheena Bora murder case has revealed that the accused in the murder had communicated through Skype to plan the murder conspiracy.

The police have raised suspicion that the accused can be poisoned through home-cooked food, and, hence, the police on Monday told the court that the accused should not be allowed home-cooked food.

Indrani Mukerjea, her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamvar Rai were produced before the Metropolitan Magistrate court in Bandra. The court extended their police custody till September 5.

A day after charging the accused persons with murder, the police have slapped Indrani, Khanna and Rai with two more charges – under Sections 202 for refusing to give proper information and 203 for giving false information – of the Indian Penal Code.

The prosecution, while arguing on the extension of police custody of the accused persons, said: "During the investigation, it has come on record that, apart from the conspiracy to kill Bora, there was another conspiracy to eliminate Sheena's brother Mikhail the same day Sheena was killed."

"The alcohol, which was offered to him was spiked with poisonous substance. The accused had purchased two bags – one was used after killing Sheena, the other was for Mikhail. The police have recovered the second bag.

The police have also visited the shop from where the accused had bought kerosene and the can, which were used to set Sheena's body afire. However, the police are yet to find out the reason behind choosing Pen as the location to discard the body."

The police told the court that investigators had visited Sheena's office and had recovered documents related to her resignation. Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria had earlier stated that Sheena's resignation letter, which was sent to her company, was forged.

While Sheena was bumped off on April 24, 2012, the resignation letter was sent on May 5, 2012. The police had also traced and recorded the statement of the woman who had signed the email on behalf of Sheena and sent it to her company, at the behest of Indrani. Maria had also stated that, in July 2012, a letter was sent to the landlord of the Khar-based rented house, where Sheena stayed, pretending to be Sheena, seeking cancellation of tenancy.

"We also have to trace Sheena's valuables and mobile phone from the accused persons. We also have to search the offices of the arrested," the police said.

The extension of custody was opposed by the defence on the grounds that the Mumbai police have questioned the accused for more that 90 hours since their arrests, and they have come up with very little revelations.

The court, while extending the custody of the accused, rejected Indrani's plea for home food, and Sanjeev Khanna's plea for medication for his blood pressure. The court maintained that one cannot rule out the fact of poisoning home food. On Khanna's plea, the court held that the doctor, available in the police custody, will medically examine him.