Indrani Mukerjea conscious, may return to jail in couple of days

Indrani Mukerjea, prime accused in the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora, is conscious and maybe shifted back to jail in couple of days.

Mukerjea regained consciousness on Sunday and was "out of danger" as she responded to the treatment.

"Indrani continues to be in a state of consciousness from yesterday. Most probably we may start giving her oral strips for further round of treatment," Dr T P Lahane, Dean of state run J J Hospital, said on Monday.

Forty-eight-year-old Mukerjea was on Friday rushed to JJ Hospital from Byculla jail in an unconscious condition after she allegedly took an overdose of anti-depressant pills.

To a query whether police may quiz Indrani on Monday, Lahane said till now doctors treating her have not permitted her questioning. She may also be shifted back to jail by Tuesday or Wednesday evening, sources added.

Hospital sources, however, said that if Indrani is in a state to speak, police maybe allowed to question her later in the day.

Lahane on Saturday had said a report on Indrani's urine samples from Hinduja Hospital laboratory confirmed that level of benzodiazepine -- an anti depressant -- was found raised.

Indrani's lawyer had moved a local court on Saturday seeking permission to meet her in the hospital and the court sought a report on her health condition.

Meanwhile, the judicial custody of Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyam Rai was extended on Monday by a local magistrate till October 19.

While Khanna and Rai were produced before Magistrate M R Natu at the Esplanade court via video-conferencing, the jail officials sent Indrani’s warrant to the court in view of her hospitalisation.

Seeking the extension of the judicial custody of all the three accused, the Central Bureau of Investigation is now probing the murder case. The probe agency told the court that it would need further remand for investigations, as it was transferred to them recently, Defence Advocate Shreyansh Mithare told the Press Trust of India.

Wife of media baron Peter Mukerjea, Indrani was arrested by Khar Police on August 25 for her alleged role in the murder of Sheena, 24, her daughter from an earlier marriage, in 2012.

Sheena was allegedly kidnapped from outside National College in Bandra and strangled to death in a car by Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamvar Rai.