If you take the title of this four-part documentary literally and expect it to uncover some startling “buried truth” related to the trial of Indrani Mukerjea and others in the alleged Sheena Bora murder case, then you are going to be disappointed. Even though the docu-series, the latest addition to the true crime-based Netflix shows, does a good job of updating the audience regarding the details of the case and features several insightful interviews, it does not reveal many new facts. What it does is make one ponder over the consequences of broken familial bonds, deception, and ruthless ambition.
The docu-series works more as a refresher course on the highly publicised case. It traces the mysterious disappearance of 25-year-old Bora and the shocking allegation made by Shyamwar Rai, the driver of well-known power couple and media executives Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, that she was murdered. Rai, who was held in August 2015 for illegal possession of a firearm, disclosed during his interrogation about his involvement in Bora’s murder that allegedly took place a couple of years before. Rai told the police that he, along with Indrani and Sanjeev Khanna (Indrani’s second husband), had murdered Bora in Bandra, before dumping her body in Raigad district the following day.
This case, replete with twists and turns, makes it evident that the road to gaining success and power is tough, and holding on to them is even tougher. As the investigation progressed, it also bared the crisscross of relationships that the people involved in the case shared. Indrani had introduced Bora to Mukerjea and their family as her sister. When it came to light that Bora was Indrani’s daughter, it shocked everyone. The police arrested Indrani and Khanna. After the CBI took over the case, Peter was arrested too. The CBI said that the Mukerjeas killed Bora as they were against the relationship between Bora and Rahul, Peter’s son from a previous marriage.
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It was Rahul who kept looking for Bora after her disappearance. Rahul, distraught and desperate, kept calling Peter and asking him to look for Bora. Rahul also recorded their conversations. Parts of these conversations, featured in the series, give emotional depth to the narrative even though Rahul declined the request to be interviewed by the documentary filmmakers.
The documentary reveals that though they had reached out to all the four accused, the only person who agreed to face the camera was Indrani. And Indrani does that in style, exuding charm and unwavering confidence. Indrani has continued to deny CBI’s charges and maintained that Bora is alive. In the documentary, too, she sticks to this line and even expresses her displeasure over Sheena being “naughty” and for “hiding”.
From the various accounts featured in the documentary, including that of her son Mikhail, one pieces together the complex life of Indrani and the ambition that drove her. The documentary’s biggest feat is to make Indrani’s younger daughter Vidhie (Khanna is her biological father and she was later adopted by Peter) open up before the camera — showing her vulnerabilities and sharing her confusion. Vidhie talks about her relationship with Peter, who doted on her, and the beautiful bond she shared with Bora. One can sense the conflict and pain she experienced over these dark and almost bizarre turn of events.
The decision to make a series on this murky case, which is sub judice, and to put one of the accused at the centre of the narrative is questionable. Even though Indrani, in a lighter vein, talks about her ordeals and that she is thinking of starting a WhatsApp group called ‘Justice for Indrani’, what stays with the audience is the emotional toll that broken relationships takes on young ones.
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