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Sheena case: Judicial custody of Indrani, 2 other accused extended

Last updated on: October 31, 2015 18:24 IST

A metropolitan magistrate court in Mumbai extended the judicial custody of Indrani Mukerjea -- prime accused in Sheena Bora murder case -- and two others till November 7 after their 12-day remand ended on Saturday.

This was the first time when all the three accused --Indrani Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamvar Rai -- were produced before the court after the Central Bureau of Investigation took over the investigations in the case last month.

During the hearing, the CBI on Saturday prayed that it may be given further permission to interrogate the trio in the jail, which was granted by Magistrate N B Shinde (till November 7).

When the court sought to know from the CBI lawyer if Indrani has been interrogated, he said the agency has done so twice, but still it was necessary to further quiz her.

Earlier, the court had allowed CBI to question all the three accused in jail till October 31 (today).

The CBI has sought Indrani's voice samples for verification as it has got hold of some call records which purportedly featured her voice.

When the matter came up on Saturday, Indrani's lawyer Gunjan Mangala told the court that her client has been feeling drowsy and proper medical treatment should be given to her.

Mangala told the court that Indrani has cooperated with the probe agency but her medical condition was not well.

"When her (Indrani's) medical condition is not good, she should not be interrogated," she urged before the court.

At this, the magistrate directed the agency to get a fitness (report) from the concerned authorities before interrogating her (in jail).

The court also directed Indrani's lawyer to take consent from her to conduct voice sampling on her.

To which, Mangala told the court that she (Indrani) was palpitating and was not medically and mentally fit to give consent for the voice sampling test.

The only time Indrani spoke today was when the court asked her "are you not in a position (to give your consent for voice samples) to which she replied, "No..Sir".

The local court on October 19 had extended the custody of Mukerjea, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her driver Shyamvar Rai till October 31.

Indrani, Khanna and Rai have been arrested on the charge of murdering 24-year-old Sheena and disposing off her body in a Raigad forest in April 2012.

Indrani was recently hospitalised after her platelet count dipped drastically. However, doctors at JJ hospital had later made it clear that she had not contracted dengue as suspected.

Earlier, on October 2, Indrani was taken to J J from Byculla womens' prison in an unconscious state, fuelling speculation that she had overdosed on anti-depressant drugs.

But the probe by Inspector General (prisons) ruled out the possibility of drug overdose, poisoning or suicide bid.

On October 6, the 43-year-old was discharged and sent back to jail.

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