Indrani Mukerjea walks out of jail after six years

"I have forgiven everyone virtually," said HR professional-turned-media executive Indrani Mukerjea as she walked out of the women’s jail in Byculla in Mumbai on Friday, a couple of days after she was granted bail by the Supreme Court.

Arrested on August 25, 2015 for killing her daughter Sheena Bora, she was behind bars for nearly seven years.

“…khula aasman dekha… bahut Khushi hui (I saw the outside world after a long time.. I'm was very happy),” said 50-year-old Indrani dressed in crisp and spotless-white kurta-pyjama.

When it was pointed out that more than six-and-a-half years of her life were lost, Indrani smiled and said: “…(it's about) empathy and forgiveness…I have forgiven everyone virtually”.

She was received by her lawyer Sana Raees Khan.

The Supreme Court order was presented before the special CBI court in Mumbai and the release was finalised after furnishing cash bail of Rs 2 lakh.

Khan later dropped the release order in the Byculla jail.

Her ex-husband Peter Mukerjea, former Star TV CEO and media tycoon, was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on March 20, 2020.

Sheena Bora, who was 24 at the time of her murder on April 24, 2012, was in a live-in relationship with Rahul Mukerjea, the younger son of Peter Mukerjea – and also her step-brother.

Indrani had passed off Sheena and Mikhail as siblings when she married Peter. Sheena's body was found in Pen taluka on May 23, 2012, as many as 29 days after her murder – but no ADR or FIR was taken. The Pen police station only made an entry in the station diary. She was killed on April 24, 2012.

The accused in the case were Indrani Mukerjea, her first husband Sanjeev Khanna and Peter Mukerjea, and driver Shyamvar Rai who had turned an approver.

While still in jail, Indrani and Peter Mukerjea ended their 17-year relationship and were granted a divorce in 2019.