In a tangled web of half-truths and whataboutery, is Indrani Mukerjea victim or criminal?

Following the release of a docu-series on one of the most sensationalised trials, Indrani Mukerjea, accused of killing her daughter Sheena Bora, tells The Established about what went wrong, and what could be set right

There’s something about Indrani Mukerjea—entrepreneur, media baroness, and a mother—looking straight into the camera with a piercing gaze, reclaiming her narrative after spending six-and-a-half years in prison on charges of murdering her daughter in cold blood.

In August 2015, the Sheena Bora murder case came to light, and almost immediately, had the nation in its grip. It confused and beguiled a society obsessed with the idea of a perfect family, and the Bora-Mukerjeas seemed far from it. In the eye of the storm stood Indrani, then 43, accused of murdering Sheena, who was first known to be her sister, and had been missing since April 2012.

Indrani, along with her former husband Sanjeev Khanna, was arrested on the testimony provided by the former’s driver Shyamvar Rai four days prior to the arrest. Rai was apprehended by the Mumbai Police while discarding an illegal weapon into a river.

The details that followed were macabre, involving the unearthing of the remains of Sheena—who was later found to be Indrani’s first-born—from a forest in the Raigad district. Some months later, in December 2015, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) made its first and only arrest in the case by charging Indrani’s then-husband Peter Mukerjea—media executive who headed Star Network before setting up INX Media with his wife in 2007—for colluding with the other three in the crime.

After multiple bail pleas on merit and medical grounds, Indrani was finally granted her release in May 2022. Nearly two years—and a memoir and Netflix docu-series, which might influence the verdict of the case, as it is still sub-judice—later, her life stands at a peculiar juncture, where despite not being absolved of the charges, she continues to build on her ambitions.

“As I continue to navigate the legal process and fight for justice, my focus remains on clearing my name and reclaiming my life. Beyond that, I am hopeful for the future and open to whatever opportunities come my way,” Indrani tells The Established. Her Instagram, which has already garnered a following of 1.5 million, suggests she has been dabbling with Indian classical dance forms and bachata. But she also wishes to write more and advocate for criminal justice reform, and maybe even shine a spotlight on the muffled voices of women and children suffering sexual abuse at home.

Reclaiming the narrative

In her book Unbroken: The Untold Story (HarperCollins, 2023) and Netflix docu-series The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth (2024)—directed by Uraaz Bahl and Shaana Levy—one of the more startling revelations was that Sheena was born to Indrani of rape by her biological father, who assaulted her at home as a minor, first aged 14, and then 16. It’s a detail that sits uneasily through the entire discourse built around who she is, and what she stands for, especially as a parent to a child who was born of an act of violence. “My childhood experiences have influenced the way I approach motherhood and relationships in general,” she says. “Growing up in an environment where my ambitions were not always supported, and where there were tensions within my family dynamics, undoubtedly shaped my perspective.”

Through her six-and-a-half years in prison—which is when she wrote most of her book and also moved the court for divorce with Peter—the media and her family, like Peter’s son Rahul (Sheena’s fiancé), and her son Mekhail Bora, were given the opportunity by the media and the police to voice their thoughts on the convoluted chain of events. What emerged, foremost, was the figure of a mother who was an aberration, seemingly bereft of emotions and motherly instincts, driven purely by ambition and the need for social currency, like a modern-day Lady Macbeth.

When Sheena disappeared, she was 25. When Indrani left her home, she was younger than 25, and no one came looking for her, she says. Effectively, her parents have been let off the hook for the same offence she is said to have perpetrated, and she can't help but question the seeming injustice in it all. "It's difficult to single out one person who disappointed me the most, as there were many individuals whose actions and words contributed to the challenges I faced. From those who rushed to judgment without knowing the full story to those who exploited the situation for their own gain, there is no shortage of disappointment to go around," she says.

Did Indrani Mukerjea’s ambitions cause her downfall?

Indrani says that her tall aspirations made her a softer scapegoat. “I believe that my ambition, as well as societal attitudes towards ambitious women, played a role in how I was perceived and ultimately, in the circumstances I found myself in. From a young age, I was driven, and I faced criticism and judgment for not conforming to traditional gender roles,” she points out, adding that her ambitions, however, cannot be conflated with the allegations brought against her. “Ambition alone does not lead someone to commit a crime. I believe that my ambition was misunderstood and unfairly used against me in the court of public opinion,” she adds.

Amidst the noise shrouding the case, at the centre of which lies a young woman who went missing, her disappearance—that was initially attributed to her moving to the United States for higher studies—caused ripples through her family. For Indrani, it took a significant toll on her mental health. “In 2012, I was consumed by fear, confusion, and a desperate need for answers,” says Indrani. “The anxiety began to set in as the case gained more attention and scrutiny. The fear of being misunderstood and falsely accused weighed heavily on me, and I felt a sense of helplessness as I watched events unfold from behind bars.”

In 2015, Indrani began noticing loopholes in the narratives put out by the media, as the details of what allegedly happened diverged from her own recollections and understanding of events. “It became increasingly clear that something was amiss,” she says.

“The most bizarre aspect of the case to me is the way it unfolded and the twists and turns that emerged as more information came to light. From the initial disappearance of Sheena to the discovery of alleged skeletal remains and the subsequent investigation, there were many moments that left me bewildered and questioning everything,” adds Indrani.

Is Sheena Bora still alive?

A rather shocking claim made by Indrani and her defense counsel is that Sheena is supposedly alive, and has been spotted multiple times by several people in different parts of the country.

Based on such a claim made by Indrani, that a woman resembling her deceased daughter was spotted at the Guwahati airport by two lawyers, the airport authority submitted the CCTV footage from 5 January this year to a special CBI court, who continue to refute Indrani’s assertions, stating that Sheena’s remains prove otherwise. Why, then, does Indrani continue to insist that her daughter is alive? “I am not certain that Sheena is alive,” she says. “However, more than one person has claimed to have spotted her. My belief that she may be alive also stems from a gut feeling and a deep-seated hope that she is out there somewhere, safe and sound. I cannot shake the feeling that there is more to the story than meets the eye.”

Indrani, however, still cannot fathom why her first-born chose to disappear on her. Right now, the most she can do is speculate. “The reasons behind her actions are known only to her, and I can only imagine the pain and turmoil she must have been experiencing,” she says. “In the age of social media, it's easier than ever to disappear and start anew, but it also comes with its own set of challenges and risks,” adds Indrani.

And while all four accused in the case are out on bail, with the courts having failed to ascribe cogent motives behind the crime to any of them, Indrani is no longer willing to stagnate and nurse regrets, barring one. “I regret my marriage to Peter. I believe that had I not accepted his marriage proposal, it could have spared me and my loved ones from the heartache and turmoil,” she says.

Indrani still hopes to have a family again, though, perhaps the same one that she says abandoned her. “Of course, I miss having a family and the sense of connection and love that comes with it. Family has always been important to me, and the thought of rebuilding those bonds is something that gives me hope and keeps me going.”

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