CBI Court Allows New Witness In Sheena Bora Murder Case

A special CBI court in Mumbai has allowed the prosecution to examine a new witness in the ongoing trial of the Sheena Bora murder case. The court's decision came on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, after the CBI submitted a plea to examine Narayan Prasad Pathak, who is acquainted with the handwriting and signatures of Vernon Fernandes, the former General Manager of Hotel Hill Top.

Fernandes was a key witness in the case, but he reportedly died in December 2022. The CBI claimed that Pathak, who worked with Fernandes, had seen his handwriting and signatures, making him a crucial witness in the case. The prosecution plans to use Pathak's testimony to verify the authenticity of documents that allegedly connect Sanjeev Khanna, Sheena Bora's stepfather, to the crime.

However, the defence lawyers opposed the plea, citing the delay in filing the application and the advanced stage of the trial. Indrani Mukerjea's lawyer, Ranjeet Sangle, pointed out that the prosecution had not provided any explanation for the delay. Khanna's lawyer, Harshman Chavan, argued that permitting the prosecution to examine the new witness would reopen the evidence and unnecessarily prolong the trial, which has been pending since 2015.

Chavan further contended that allowing the application would amount to an abuse of the process of law, as identifying the signatures on the documents is a material and substantive piece of evidence that goes to the very root of the prosecution's case. Despite the opposition, the court allowed the plea, directing the CBI's main investigating officer to be examined first before examining Pathak.

The Sheena Bora murder case has been ongoing for over a decade, with the trial commencing in 2015. The case involves the alleged murder of Sheena Bora, who was found dead in 2012. Her mother, Indrani Mukerjea, and stepfather, Sanjeev Khanna, are among the accused in the case.

The CBI has been investigating the case, and the trial has seen several twists and turns. The court's decision to allow the new witness is a significant development in the case, which is expected to continue in the coming weeks.

The Sheena Bora murder case has garnered significant attention in India, with many following the trial closely. The case has raised questions about the investigation and the prosecution's handling of the evidence.

In recent years, the case has seen several developments, including the rejection of Indrani Mukerjea's plea to travel to Spain and the UK. The court's decision to allow the new witness is expected to have implications for the trial, which is ongoing.

The CBI's decision to seek a new witness is a significant development in the case, which is expected to continue in the coming weeks. The trial is being closely watched, and the outcome is expected to have significant implications for the accused and the investigation.

In conclusion, the special CBI court's decision to allow the prosecution to examine a new witness in the Sheena Bora murder case is a significant development in the ongoing trial. The case is expected to continue in the coming weeks, with the prosecution and defence presenting their arguments. The outcome of the trial is expected to have significant implications for the accused and the investigation.