NEW DELHI // A murder investigation involving a former media tycoon and her slain daughter has gripped India, revealing sordid details of deceit, hatred and a pre-meditated plan to kill.
Last week, Mumbai police arrested Indrani Mukerjea, 43, the former head of the New Delhi-based INX Media group, on charges of murdering her daughter Sheena Bora in 2012. Bora was just 22-years-old at the time of her death.
Ms Mukerjea’s ex-husband, Sanjeev Khanna, and her driver, Shyam Rai, have also been arrested for allegedly being part of the plot.
The three accused appeared in a Mumbai court on Monday, where a judge extended their police custody until September 5.
Police began investigating Ms Mukerjea about four months ago, following an anonymous tip, according to police statements.
However, the investigation only picked up after Mr Rai confessed to being involved in Sheena’s murder, following his arrest two weeks ago on unrelated illegal firearms charges.
The case has all the trappings of a murder mystery. For unknown reasons, Ms Mukerjea would introduce Sheena as her sister, instead of her daughter. It was only after Ms Mukerjea’s arrest that Sheena was revealed to be her daughter from the first of her three marriages.
Even Ms Mukerjea’s current husband, Peter Mukerjea, the former chief executive of Star TV in India, did not know the truth about the relationship. “I feel like I have been kept in the dark about major parts of my marriage for 15 years,” he told the news channel NDTV last week.
Mr Mukerjea was in London when this crime was committed.
Following police questioning, Mr Rai said he had on April 24, 2012 driven Ms Mukerjea and Mr Khanna to pick up Sheena in the Mumbai suburb of Bandra. Afterwards, they took her to a quiet street and Mr Khanna strangled her.
The act was pre-planned. Mr Khanna had flown in to Mumbai from Kolkata especially for this.
Later that night, the three stuffed Sheena body into a bag, put it in the car’s trunk and drove to the woods in Raigad, roughly 70 kilometres away. There, they doused the bag with petrol, set fire to it and buried the remains, according to Mr Rai’s confession.
Raigad police found the burned body about a month later, but were unable to identify the victim. It wasn’t until Mr Rai’s arrest that the body was connected to Sheena’s disappearance.
Peter Mukerjea’s son from a previous marriage, Rahul, and Ms Bora’s brother Mikhail had filed a missing person’s complaint in 2012. At the time, Ms Mukerjea insisted Sheena had moved to the United States.
Police sources said that Mr Rai’s story was corroborated by Mr Khanna’s confession, after his arrest on August 26. Ms Mukerjea, arrested a day earlier, has also been interrogated, but police have not revealed details from the questioning.
As yet, no explanation has arisen for why Ms Mukerjea and her accomplices would have murdered Sheena, although some media reports have mentioned a financial dispute between mother and daughter.
Adding additional confusion to the case, at the time of her murder Sheena had been engaged to marry Rahul Mukerjea, technically her step-brother.
Ms Mukerjea was born Pori Bora in Guwahati, in Assam state, where Sheena and a brother named Mikhail were also born. Their father is believed to be Siddhartha Das, a businessman with whom she was briefly married.
Leaving her children in the care of her parents, Ms Mukerjea moved to Kolkata in 1990, where she changed her name and married Mr Khanna. They have a daughter named Vidhie.
The family moved to Mumbai in 2001. Soon afterwards, Ms Mukerjea divorced Mr Khanna and, in November 2002, married Mr Mukerjea. She introduced Sheena and Mikhail to her new husband as her siblings.
While Sheena and Vidhie moved in with the Mukerjeas, Mikhail continued to live in Assam. Mumbai police sources have told reporters that Ms Mukerjea made four attempts to have Mikhail killed as well.
After INX Media racked up billions of rupees in losses, the Mukerjeas sold their stake in the company in 2010 and resigned from the board the following year. Since then, they have divided their time between homes in Marbella in Spain, Bristol in the United Kingdom and Mumbai.
The case has dominated India’s news cycle for the past week, similar to the murder trial of former US athlete OJ Simpson in the 1990s.
Abhinandan Sekhri, the co-founder of Newslaundry, a New Delhi-based web site that critiques the Indian media, told The National that the case has "brought out the worst in news coverage."
“It’s about a person who is known to most people in journalism and TV at a social or personal level,” Mr Sekhri said. “This, more than anything else, makes it delicious. The insular, gossipy nature of all we do has set this on fire. Time for colleagues who disliked her to get even, and for others to sit back and enjoy the show.”
But even people who don’t know Ms Mukerjea personally find it difficult to look away.
Archana Gupta, a healthcare consultant based in Hyderabad, admitted that, more than once a day, she searches the Internet for the latest updates to the case.
“I feel a little guilty when I do it, because I know I shouldn’t be this interested in a murder case,” she said. “But the details are just so bizarre here, and every day something more bizarre is revealed. It’s impossible to not be curious.”
ssubramanian@thenational.a
Company Profile
Company name: Cargoz
Date started: January 2022
Founders: Premlal Pullisserry and Lijo Antony
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 30
Investment stage: Seed
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Revibe
Started: 2022
Founders: Hamza Iraqui and Abdessamad Ben Zakour
Based: UAE
Industry: Refurbished electronics
Funds raised so far: $10m
Investors: Flat6Labs, Resonance and various others
RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
Pakistan v New Zealand Test series
Pakistan: Sarfraz (c), Hafeez, Imam, Azhar, Sohail, Shafiq, Azam, Saad, Yasir, Asif, Abbas, Hassan, Afridi, Ashraf, Hamza
New Zealand: Williamson (c), Blundell, Boult, De Grandhomme, Henry, Latham, Nicholls, Ajaz, Raval, Sodhi, Somerville, Southee, Taylor, Wagner
Umpires: Bruce Oxerford (AUS) and Ian Gould (ENG); TV umpire: Paul Reiffel (AUS); Match referee: David Boon (AUS)
Tickets and schedule: Entry is free for all spectators. Gates open at 9am. Play commences at 10am
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Haltia.ai
Started: 2023
Co-founders: Arto Bendiken and Talal Thabet
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI
Number of employees: 41
Funding: About $1.7 million
Investors: Self, family and friends
360Vuz PROFILE
Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
How to avoid getting scammed
- Never click on links provided via app or SMS, even if they seem to come from authorised senders at first glance
- Always double-check the authenticity of websites
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for all your working and personal services
- Only use official links published by the respective entity
- Double-check the web addresses to reduce exposure to fake sites created with domain names containing spelling errors
Zayed Sustainability Prize
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin
Director: Shawn Levy
Rating: 2.5/5
ALRAWABI SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
Creator: Tima Shomali
Starring: Tara Abboud, Kira Yaghnam, Tara Atalla
Rating: 4/5
THE BIO
Bio Box
Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul
Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader
Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet
Favorite food: seafood
Favorite place to travel: Lebanon
Favorite movie: Braveheart
SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now
RESULTS
Time; race; prize; distance
4pm: Maiden; (D) Dh150,000; 1,200m
Winner: General Line, Xavier Ziani (jockey), Omar Daraj (trainer)
4.35pm: Maiden (T); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Travis County, Adrie de Vries, Ismail Mohammed
5.10pm: Handicap (D); Dh175,000; 1,200m
Winner: Scrutineer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
5.45pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Yulong Warrior, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
6.20pm: Maiden (D); Dh150,000; 1,600m
Winner: Ejaaby, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
6.55pm: Handicap (D); Dh160,000; 1,600m
Winner: Storyboard, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.30pm: Handicap (D); Dh150,000; 2,200m
Winner: Grand Dauphin, Gerald Mosse, Ahmed Al Shemaili
8.05pm: Handicap (T); Dh190,000; 1,800m
Winner: Good Trip, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Match info
Athletic Bilbao 0
Real Madrid 1 (Ramos 73' pen)
Kill
Director: Nikhil Nagesh Bhat
Starring: Lakshya, Tanya Maniktala, Ashish Vidyarthi, Harsh Chhaya, Raghav Juyal
Rating: 4.5/5
RESULTS
6.30pm: Emirates Holidays Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Lady Snazz, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
7.05pm: Arabian Adventures Maiden (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zhou Storm, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Emirates Skywards Handicap (TB) Dh 82,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Rich And Famous, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Emirates Airline Conditions (TB) Dh 120,000 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Rio Angie, Sam Hitchcock, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Emirates Sky Cargo (TB) Dh 92,500 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Kinver Edge, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
9.15pm: Emirates.com (TB) Dh 95,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner: Firnas, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer.
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Xpanceo
Started: 2018
Founders: Roman Axelrod, Valentyn Volkov
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: Smart contact lenses, augmented/virtual reality
Funding: $40 million
Investor: Opportunity Venture (Asia)
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
MATCH INFO
FA Cup final
Chelsea 1
Hazard (22' pen)
Manchester United 0
Man of the match: Eden Hazard (Chelsea)
UAE athletes heading to Paris 2024
Equestrian
Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi, Abdullah Al Marri, Omar Al Marzooqi, Salem Al Suwaidi, and Ali Al Karbi (four to be selected).
Judo
Men: Narmandakh Bayanmunkh (66kg), Nugzari Tatalashvili (81kg), Aram Grigorian (90kg), Dzhafar Kostoev (100kg), Magomedomar Magomedomarov (+100kg); women's Khorloodoi Bishrelt (52kg).
Cycling
Safia Al Sayegh (women's road race).
Swimming
Men: Yousef Rashid Al Matroushi (100m freestyle); women: Maha Abdullah Al Shehi (200m freestyle).
Athletics
Maryam Mohammed Al Farsi (women's 100 metres).
Results
Stage 7:
1. Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal - 3:18:29
2. Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - same time
3. Phil Bauhaus (GER) Bahrain Victorious
4. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep
5. Cees Bol (NED) Team DSM
General Classification:
1. Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 24:00:28
2. Adam Yates (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:35
3. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:02
4. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:42
5. Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45
Key changes
Commission caps
For life insurance products with a savings component, Peter Hodgins of Clyde & Co said different caps apply to the saving and protection elements:
• For the saving component, a cap of 4.5 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 90 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• On the protection component, there is a cap of 10 per cent of the annualised premium per year (which may not exceed 160 per cent of the annualised premium over the policy term).
• Indemnity commission, the amount of commission that can be advanced to a product salesperson, can be 50 per cent of the annualised premium for the first year or 50 per cent of the total commissions on the policy calculated.
• The remaining commission after deduction of the indemnity commission is paid equally over the premium payment term.
• For pure protection products, which only offer a life insurance component, the maximum commission will be 10 per cent of the annualised premium multiplied by the length of the policy in years.
Disclosure
Customers must now be provided with a full illustration of the product they are buying to ensure they understand the potential returns on savings products as well as the effects of any charges. There is also a “free-look” period of 30 days, where insurers must provide a full refund if the buyer wishes to cancel the policy.
“The illustration should provide for at least two scenarios to illustrate the performance of the product,” said Mr Hodgins. “All illustrations are required to be signed by the customer.”
Another illustration must outline surrender charges to ensure they understand the costs of exiting a fixed-term product early.
Illustrations must also be kept updatedand insurers must provide information on the top five investment funds available annually, including at least five years' performance data.
“This may be segregated based on the risk appetite of the customer (in which case, the top five funds for each segment must be provided),” said Mr Hodgins.
Product providers must also disclose the ratio of protection benefit to savings benefits. If a protection benefit ratio is less than 10 per cent "the product must carry a warning stating that it has limited or no protection benefit" Mr Hodgins added.
ANDROID VERSION NAMES, IN ORDER
Android Alpha
Android Beta
Android Cupcake
Android Donut
Android Eclair
Android Froyo
Android Gingerbread
Android Honeycomb
Android Ice Cream Sandwich
Android Jelly Bean
Android KitKat
Android Lollipop
Android Marshmallow
Android Nougat
Android Oreo
Android Pie
Android 10 (Quince Tart*)
Android 11 (Red Velvet Cake*)
Android 12 (Snow Cone*)
Android 13 (Tiramisu*)
Android 14 (Upside Down Cake*)
Android 15 (Vanilla Ice Cream*)
* internal codenames