The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to Indrani Mukerjea, the prime accused in the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora, saying that six-and-a-half years in prison is too long a term and that the trial will not be completed anytime soon.

However, Indrani, Mukerjea will have to stay in prison till at least Friday as the trial court will have to finalise her bail conditions. Her lawyer Sana Raees Shaikh said she would try and move the special CBI court here on Friday to get bail conditions finalised and secure Indrani’s release.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice L. Nageswara Rao, noted that Indrani had been in jail since 2015, and said the trial was not going to be completed anytime soon as out of 237 witnesses cited by the prosecution only 68 had been examined till date.

“The petitioner is charged with kidnapping with an intention to murder her daughter after entering into a criminal conspiracy. The petitioner is wife of Peter Mukerjea, who is a co-accused in the case. The allegation made against the petitioner is that she planned the murder in view of the

live-in relationship of her daughter with Rahul Mukerjea, who is the son of Peter through his earlier wife,” the bench said.

“We do not intend to make comments on the merits of the case as it might be detrimental to the interests of the parties. Taking into account that petitioner has been in custody for six-and-a-half-years and even if 50 per cent witnesses are given by prosecution, the trial would not be over soon, we are of the considered view that the petitioner is entitled to be released on bail.

“The petitioner is directed to be released on bail subject to satisfaction of the trial court and the same conditions imposed earlier (on Peter Mukerjea ),” the bench, also comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and A.S. Bopanna, said.

Former media baron Peter’s marriage to Indrani ended during her period of incarceration in 2019.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Indrani, who is currently lodged at the Byculla women’s prison in Mumbai following her arrest in August 2015.

The senior lawyer said Indrani had been in jail for over six years and was entitled to special dispensation under Section 437.

Rohatgi submitted that the trial was not going to complete anytime soon as a large number of witnesses were yet to be examined while Peter had already been granted bail in 2020.

Additional solicitor-general S.V. Raju, appearing for the CBI, told the court that there was clinching evidence in the form of call records against Indrani about her involvement in the case.

He said 50 per cent of the remaining witnesses had been given up and the trial would end soon.

He opposed the bail plea and told the apex court that one of the crucial witnesses, Rahul, the alleged boyfriend of Sheena Bora, was slated to be examined on May 27.

Indrani had been denied bail on multiple occasions by a special CBI court, which is conducting the trial in the murder case.

Sheena, 24, was allegedly strangled to death in a car by Indrani, her then driver Shyamvar Rai and former husband Sanjeev Khanna in April 2012. The body was burnt in a forest in neighbouring Raigad district.

Sheena was Indrani’s daughter from her previous relationship.

Peter was also arrested for allegedly being part of the conspiracy. He was granted bail by the high court in February 2020.