Peter's son Rahul's 'relationship' with Sheena Bora one of the motives behind murder

Mumbai: The "relationship" between Peter Mukerjea's son Rahul and Indrani's daughter Sheena Bora has been listed by a Mumbai court as one of the motives behind Sheena's killing.

"On the basis of record and prosecution's case two motives can be gathered..One is of relationship between step brother (Rahul) and sister (Sheena) and the other (is) the financial transaction," observed Magistrate Mahesh R Natu, before whom Peter was produced for extension of his custody.

The Magistrate also held that the conduct of the accused persons in the sensational murder case plays a very vital role.

"It is pertinent to note that the allegation is of murder of daughter (Sheena) by mother (prime accused Indrani), but the fact was not disclosed for about two and half years. Screening of the offence for about two and half years ago itself shows about the tough mentality of the accused," the court observed in its order, the copy of which was given to Peter's advocates Kushal Mor and Shrikant Sonkavade today.

It was not (the behaviour) of a common man, he breaks somewhere, the court observed.

"The additional material that father (Peter) tells son (Rahul) that deceased is alive and that too after her murder shows (his) tough mentality," the court observed.

The court yesterday extended the CBI custody of Peter till November 26.

The CBI had yesterday reiterated that financial transaction was the motive behind Sheena's murder.

The agency had also said that Peter had disclosed that investments of crores of rupees were made by him and Indrani in the form of fixed deposits in UK and India and some immovable properties were also acquired by them during 2010-2011, but did not disclose the source of money for acquiring the said assets.

The CBI had told the court that Peter was not forthcoming about the conversation that he had with Indrani on the day of the murder.

Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and her former driver Shyamvar Rai have been chargesheeted for the murder of 24-year-old Sheena, Indrani's daughter from an earlier marriage, in April 2012.