Shyamvar Rai is being cross-examined in Sheena Bora murder case

Mumbai: Shyamwar Rai, accused-turned-approver in the Sheena Bora murder case, told a special CBI court on Monday that he was not aware the punishment for murder was more severe than that for possessing illegal arms. Mr. Rai is currently being cross-examined by the lawyers of accused Sanjeev Khanna.

The murder came to light in August 2015 after Mr. Rai, who was arrested in an arms case, revealed it. Mr. Khanna’s lawyers, Niranjan Mundergi and Shreyansh Mithare, asked Mr. Rai about the drains near his locality, indicating he could have dumped the gun used in the crime near his house. Mr. Rai was arrested in Bandra, where he had purportedly come to get rid of the gun.

He also told the court that he served as a driver to both Sheena and her brother Mikhael. The lawyers asked him about the long conversations he had with Mikhael between January, 2012 and April, 2012. In reply, Mr. Rai said he doesn’t remember why those calls were made, or the conversation. He said after his arrest in the arms case, he had disclosed Sheena’s murder of his own accord, and not under police pressure.