Sheena Bora murder case trial to resume on daily basis from Mar 10
Mumbai(PTI): The trial in the Sheena Bora murder case is set to resume on a day-to-day basis from March 10 after a standstill of more than four months following the transfer of the special judge.
The last notable hearing in the case, in which Sheena Bora's mother Indrani Mukerjea is the prime accused, was held on October 23 last year before the transfer of special CBI judge S P Naik Nimbalkar.
On Friday, newly assigned special judge J P Darekar told the prosecution and defence lawyers that the trial in the case will resume on a daily basis from March 10 as per the direction of the Bombay High Court.
Bora (24) was allegedly strangled to death in a car by Indrani Mukerjea, her then driver Shyamvar Rai (who later turned approver in the case) and Mukerjea's former husband Sanjeev Khanna in April 2012. Her body was burnt and disposed of at a forest in nearby Raigad.
Media baron Peter Mukerjea, ex-husband of Indrani, is also an accused in the case.
The murder came to light in 2015 after Rai spilled the beans about the murder following his arrest in another case.
Indrani Mukerjea and Khanna were arrested in August 2015, while Peter Mukerjea was arrested three months later. All the accused are currently out on bail.
The trial in the case began in February 2017 after framing of charges against all the accused. There are 237 prosecution witnesses, out of which over 90 have been examined by the court so far.
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Bhojshala case: Disputed structure built from remains of pre-existing temples, claims ASI
Indore (PTI): The ASI has told the Madhya Pradesh High Court that a massive structure dating back to the Paramara kings' rule existed at the disputed Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex, and the current structure was built from the remains of temples.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) made the claim on Tuesday based on its 98-day scientific survey and over 2,000-page report.
The Hindu community considers Bhojshala a temple dedicated to Vagdevi (Goddess Saraswati), while the Muslim side claims the monument as the Kamal Maula Mosque. The disputed complex is protected by the ASI.
During the hearing before Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi of the HC's Indore bench, Additional Solicitor General Sunil Kumar Jain, representing the ASI, presented a detailed account of the scientific survey conducted two years ago at the complex.
Referring to the ASI's survey report, he said, "Retrieved architectural remains, sculptural fragments, large slabs of inscriptions with literary texts, Nagakarnika inscriptions on pillars, etc, suggest that a large structure associated with literary and educational activities existed at the site. Based on scientific investigations and archaeological remains recovered during the investigations, this pre-existing structure can be dated to the Paramara period."
It can be said that the existing structure was made from the parts of earlier temples, based on scientific investigations, survey and archaeological excavations conducted, study and analysis of retrieved finds, study of architectural remains, sculptures, and inscriptions, art and sculptures, Jain said quoting the report.
Summarising the report, he also drew the court's attention to the fact that the archaeological study identifies that many architectural components, such as pillars and beams, were originally part of temple structures before being repurposed for a mosque.
"The evidence of this transition includes Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions that were damaged or hidden, alongside sculptures of deities and animals that were often mutilated or defaced," Jain contended.
The report also states that "all Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions are older than the Arabic and Persian inscriptions, indicating that users or engravers of the Sanskrit and Prakrit inscriptions occupied the place earlier".
In light of the Muslim side's earlier objections, the bench wanted to know why there were some discrepancies in the ASI's responses regarding the status of the disputed complex in the cases filed over the years.
The Additional Solicitor General argued that earlier studies of the complex involved only officials, while the current survey involved scientists and the use of advanced technologies such as Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR).
The hearing in the Bhojshala case will continue on Wednesday.
The high court has been regularly hearing four petitions and one writ appeal regarding the religious nature of the Bhojshala temple-Kamal Maula mosque complex since April 6.
