In a stunning and dramatic turn of events in the decade-long Sheena Bora murder trial, key prosecution witness Vidhie Mukerjea has disavowed the statement attributed to her in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chargesheet, labeling it "forged and fabricated." Testifying in a special CBI court, Vidhie, the daughter of main accused Indrani Mukerjea, not only denied recording any official statement but also leveled explosive allegations of theft and motive against other family members, dealing a severe blow to the prosecution's narrative.
Appearing as a witness, Vidhie Mukerjea delivered a testimony that could fundamentally alter the course of the trial. She told the court that while she was questioned by the Mumbai Police and later the CBI, she never formally recorded the detailed statement that forms a crucial part of the evidence against her parents, Indrani Mukerjea and Sanjeev Khanna. When presented with the document in court, she explicitly stated it was "never recorded by me or under my instruction."
Vidhie, who was a minor at the time of her mother's arrest in 2015, described being in a state of immense trauma. She claimed that during this period, a CBI officer presented her with multiple documents, including blank sheets and emails, and instructed her to sign them. She argued that if such a statement was fabricated under her name, it must have been done with "ulterior motives and malafide intentions" specifically to falsely implicate her biological parents in the crime.
Beyond discrediting the statement, Vidhie Mukerjea introduced a powerful new theory for the motive behind her mother's alleged framing. She claimed that Peter Mukerjea's sons, Rahul and Rabin, had a clear financial incentive to ensure Indrani remained imprisoned. According to her testimony, the brothers "siphoned off" her mother’s ancestral jewellery, valued in crores, along with cash amounting to ₹7 crore from her bank accounts after her arrest.
Vidhie alleged that a new bank locker was opened in Rahul and Rabin's names to store the "stolen" jewellery. She contended that both men were in a precarious financial position and desperately needed the money. Therefore, she argued, they had a clear motive to "falsely implicate Indrani" to prevent her from being released and demanding the return of her assets. She also described a grim picture of the family's behavior following her mother's arrest, claiming relatives fought over Indrani's personal belongings and that Rabin Mukerjea intimidated her into choosing sides.
Vidhie's testimony also sought to reshape the prosecution's portrayal of the family relationships. She recalled that her half-sister, Sheena Bora, was initially introduced to her as Indrani's "sister" and that the two were "extremely close." She testified that disputes between them only began after Rahul Mukerjea, Peter's son, started a relationship with Sheena and began visiting their home. The situation worsened, she claimed, when the family discovered Rahul was allegedly consuming "hard drugs" and that Sheena had also become involved.
The prosecution alleges that Sheena Bora was murdered by Indrani, Khanna, and a driver in April 2012, with her body being disposed of in a forest. The case came to light only in 2015. Vidhie’s testimony, which is set to continue, challenges the very foundation of the CBI's case by questioning the authenticity of key evidence and introducing a compelling alternative motive centered on greed and family betrayal.
· Bombshell Testimony: Indrani Mukerjea's daughter, Vidhie, a key witness, has claimed in court that her statement in the CBI chargesheet is "forged and fabricated."
· Motive Allegations: Vidhie accused Peter Mukerjea's sons, Rahul and Rabin, of stealing crores in cash and jewellery from her mother, suggesting they had a motive to falsely implicate Indrani.
· Evidence Questioned: She denied ever formally recording a statement and claimed a CBI officer made her sign blank documents when she was a minor.
· Setback for Prosecution: This stunning reversal severely undermines the prosecution's case by discrediting key evidence and introducing an alternative narrative for the crime.
