'Nothing against prosecution in docu-series on Indrani Mukerjea,' HC paves way for the OTT release

Netflix docu-series on Indrani Mukerjea. File pic

The Bombay High Court on Thursday dismissed the the petition filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), seeking a stay on the release of the Netflix docu-series on Indrani Mukerjea, accused of killing her daughter Sheena Bora. The court said it has not found anything against the prosecution or the trial in the docu-series, reported PTI.

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Manjusha Deshpande dismissed the petition which has now paved way for the release of the series. The docu-series, titled 'The Indrani Mukerjea Story: The Buried Truth', delves into the disappearance of 25-year-old Bora, was scheduled to premiere on Netflix on February 23.

The bench had last week directed Netflix to hold a special screening of the series for the CBI officers and lawyers concerned. Netflix had then said it would not air the series till Thursday, February 29.

As per PTI report, on Thursday, Additional Solicitor General Devang Vyas, appearing for the CBI, said the series prejudices administration of justice and fair trial. He claimed that it may create a public perception which would in turn affect the judicial mind. The high court, however, noted that it too had watched the series and had in fact thought that the CBI would not press its demand against the series.

"Tell us which witness has spoken which is contrary to the prosecution? In fact it is favouring the prosecution," the high court said. The court noted that even what the accused Indrani Mukerjea has said in the series is already available in the public domain.

"Initially, we felt that the CBI had a genuine apprehension and hence we gave it the opportunity to view the series and we did not even let the other party to argue," the HC said, reported PTI.

The bench also refused to allow Peter Mukerjea, Indrani's ex-husband and a co-accused in the case, to intervene in the matter. Peter's advocate Manjula Rao said the series was projecting him in a bad light. The court, however, said he can file a separate suit if he wishes to.

The CBI moved the HC after a special court on Tuesday rejected its application against the series. According to the CBI, 89 out of the 237 witnesses have been examined so far before the trial court.

Sheena Bora was allegedly strangled to death in a car by Indrani, her then driver Shyamvar Rai and former husband Sanjeev Khanna in April 2012.

(With PTI inputs)