Repeated attempts to contact Sheena went in vain: Siddartha Das tells CBI

MUMBAI: Siddartha Das, the biological father of Sheena Bora, has told CBI that he repeatedly tried to get in touch with his 24-year-old daughter after she went missing in April 2012, but received no response.

Siddartha, in his statement recorded by CBI during the course of the investigation into the sensational murder case, said he had met Sheena for the last time in August 2010 at the residence of her maternal grandparents.

"I visited her when I was on my way from Kolkata to my native place Karimganj. Sheena then told me that (her brother) Mikhail (Bora) was residing in Bangalore. I took Sheena's mobile number so that I could remain in touch with her," he said.

"After April 2012, whenever I tried to contact Sheena, her mobile was off. I also sent her several e-mails but there was no response from her side," Siddartha told CBI.

Indrani, her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and her former driver Shyamvar Rai are presently in CBI custody for allegedly murdering Sheena in April 2012 by strangulating her to death in their car and then dumping the body in a forest at Raigad.

Indrani's husband and former media baron Peter Mukerjea was also recently arrested by CBI for his alleged involvement in the case. He will be in the agency's custody till November 30.

Indrani and Siddartha met in Shillong in 1986. They started living together and had two children (Sheena and Mikhail).

According to Siddartha, in 1989 Indrani left him and their children without informing, after which he never met her or tried to get in touch with her. Sheena and Mikhail were then sent to their maternal grandparents' house.

Siddartha in his statement said he came to know about Sheena's death only on August 25 this year when prime accused Indrani Mukerjea was arrested.

"After the Mumbai police took my statement I came to Mumbai and met Indrani and asked her about Sheena and the accusations levelled against her. I asked her why she did so but she charged me by saying 'Have you ever taken care of your children'," Siddartha told CBI.

Siddartha's statement forms part of the voluminous charge sheet filed by CBI against Indrani, Khanna and Rai on November 19.

Siddartha also told CBI that he does not know when Indrani married Sanjeev and subsequently divorced him, and also when she wed Peter.

"I was in touch with Sheena. Once Sheena told me she has a boyfriend and his name is Rahul (Mukerjea) but at that time I did not know who he was and I did not ask Sheena too. I also never asked Sheena about Indrani," he said.