Sheena Bora truth remains buried

Parbina Rashid

This four-episode docu-series ends with a question, “Did you kill Sheena Bora?” Indrani Mukerjea, in her cultivated accent and modulated voice, replies, “What a stupid question!” Well, it’s a stupid question considering that the series in its previous three episodes shows no inclination to establish who the guilty party here is! In fact, the makers seem to be generous with Indrani as they allow the time and the lines to whitewash her public image.

The series helps us revisit the sensational Sheena Bora disappearance case through pictures, footage and telephone recordings, which we have already seen and heard over the years on television channels. Mercifully, the shrilly anchors have been replaced by sane voices of some familiar TV hosts, reporters, lawyers and three main persons involved in this gruesome drama — Indrani, Vidhie Mukerjea and Mikhail Bora.

In bits and pieces, the story takes shape. An agitated Rahul Mukerjea asks his father Peter Mukerjea about Sheena, whom he is engaged to. Sheena, who disappeared on April 24, 2012, was last seen with her ‘sister’ Indrani, who later turns out to be her mother. Indrani, the INX Media CEO, claims that Sheena has gone to the US to do her MBA. Rahul, who is her step-son from her third marriage to Star India head Peter Mukerjea, refuses to buy it.

In 2015, a burnt body is found near Mumbai. A DNA test establishes it is Sheena’s. After the arrest of Mukerjeas’ driver, Shyamvar Rai, and based on his confession, Indrani and second husband Sanjeev Khanna are arrested. The murder was allegedly carried out by the trio.

We see Vidhie spilling out cute secrets with her adoptive father Peter and mom Indrani. She talks about her dalliance with Jack Daniel’s and a suicide attempt after she loses her parents. The biggest setback comes when the transfer of a posh flat on her 18th birthday is stopped by ‘invisible hands’ as soon as Indrani is arrested after the Mumbai Police receive an anonymous tip in 2015. How can they think of stopping the transfer of a property in a time of such calamity, both mother and daughter wonder aloud. How could they, indeed!

While the family drama plays out with skeletons tumbling out of closets, and the action shifting from Mumbai to Kolkata to Guwahati, another political drama unfolds with the entry of super cop Rakesh Maria on the scene and his subsequent exit as the CBI takes over the case from Mumbai Police. Peter, too, is named as co-accused.

We get to meet Indrani’s son Mikhail, who has his own sordid experiences with her to narrate. She hogs the limelight here too (she has been doing it with her memoir and lit-fest rounds). With the swag of a fine actress, she looks straight into the camera and says, “OK guys, I am ready. Ask me whatever you need to.” But one tough question and she skirts it citing the sub-judice clause! So, it’s advantage Indrani.

She is, however, quite vocal when she describes Sheena as “very manipulative and naughty”, who “decided to disappear on me”. As for feeling remorse, “Why should I feel remorse when I have not done anything wrong?” Going by her act, the series should have been called ‘No One Killed Sheena’!

The high production quality and crisp editing make the series engrossing. But sensationalism is all we get. The interviews sound scripted and well-rehearsed. The only emotional connect is with Mikhail when he talks about his childhood with Sheena in Guwahati and their reunion with their mother after 15 years, and also with Rahul, who is desperate in his search for Sheena.

But no emotion is transparent and no truth is absolute. As Ranjeet Sangle, Indrani’s advocate, puts it, “This is a family where every member has individual agendas and it’s impossible to tell who is attached with whom and for what purpose. This is an example of what kind of role money and property play in inter-personal relationships.”

The series gets so carried away with the murkiness of this high-profile dysfunctional family that as it navigates through self-serving declarations, half-truths and blatant lies, it raises more questions and answers none. The truth remains buried with Sheena Bora.