“No Guarantee That You Will Come Back”: SC Dismisses Indrani Mukherjee’s Plea For Permission To Travel Abroad

The Supreme Court today refused to permit Indrani Mukerjea, accused in the Sheena Bora murder case, to travel abroad while her trial remains pending.

While dismissing the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by Mukherjea, the Court directed that the trial be expedited and concluded within one year.

Mukerjea, who was granted bail in 2022 after spending 6.5 years in custody, had approached the Apex Court challenging a Bombay High Court order dated September 27, 2024, which denied her request to travel abroad.

The Bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice Rajesh Bindal refused to interfere with the High Court’s decision.

During the hearing, Advocate Sana Raees Khan appearing for Mukerjea argued that the Supreme Court, while granting her bail, had allowed her to travel abroad with permission from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court. She reportedly sought to visit Spain to execute a will.

However, Justice Bindal pointed out that she had a Power of Attorney (PoA) holder in Spain who could handle legal matters on her behalf.

Khan countered that biometrics were required, which the PoA could not provide.

Justice Sundresh, expressing concerns over flight risk, remarked, “There is no guarantee that you will come back now.”

Khan, however, argued that Mukerjea had never misused her liberty during bail and had voluntarily surrendered in the past.

The Court ultimately dismissed her SLP, stating, “Considering the fact that the trial is ongoing, we are not inclined to consider the request at this stage. Expedite the trial within one year from today.”

It is to be noted that on May 18, 2022, the Apex Court had granted bail to Indrani Mukherjea. The Court had granted bail to Indrani Mukherjea holding that "Indrani Mukherjea has been in custody for 6.5 years. We are not making any comment on the merits of the case. Even if 50 percent of witnesses are giving up by the prosecution the trial would still take time."

Indrani Mukherjea was arrested in 2015 and has been charged with criminal conspiracy, murder, kidnapping, and destruction of evidence under the Indian Penal Code for the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora with the help of her former husband Sanjeev Khanna, present husband Peter Mukherjea, and driver Shyamvar Rai.

Cause Title: Indrani Mukherjea v. Central Bureau of Investigation [SLP(Crl) No. 17027/2024; Diary No. 54679/2024]