Written By: Ms. Avani Mundirikkal
M.Sc. Forensic Science, Oriental University, Indore, India, avanimvinod7@gmail.com
Abstract
This case study explores the Sheena Bora murder case, with a focus on the significant part played
by forensic odontology in identifying her remains. Sheena Bora, a young woman who went
missing in 2012, and was later discovered dead, but her body was in a highly decomposed and
partially burned condition, making methods like visual recognition or fingerprints matching
ineffective. The identification of her remains was made possible through forensic dental analysis.
This study shows how forensic odontology is an essentialscientific tool, especially when a victim’s
body is severely damaged. The dental evidence, along with DNA testing, provided clear and
reliable proof of Sheena Bora’s identity, which was crucial for moving the case forward for justice.
The Sheena Bora case shows how teeth can tell the story when other evidence is lost, connecting
the gap between crime and the conviction. Overall, it stands as a key example of how forensic
odontological evidence can greatly improve the accuracy and dependability of criminal
investigations.
Introduction
The Sheena Bora murder case is one of the most shocking and famous criminal cases in India. It
involved the disappearance and murder of Sheena Bora, a young woman. Her death was hidden
for many years by the people around her. The case became widely known because of the family
secrets involved and how forensic science, especially forensic odontology helped find her remains.
This case shows just how important dental evidence can be in solving criminal cases.
Forensic odontologists looked at the remains recovered from the scene. They studied the skull and
teeth using methods like using dental records and placing photos over the skull to compare the
teeth and jaw. They also used DNA from the tooth pulp which matched the DNA of Sheena’s
family members, helping to confirm her identity.
Background
Sheena Bora was the daughter of Indrani Mukerjea, who was a well known person in the media
world. But for a long time Indrani said that Sheena was her younger sister, not her daughter. This
was part of a tricky family situation involving Indrani, her husband Peter Mukerjea, and Sheena's
real father, Atul Bora. Sheena moved to Mumbai and worked as an assistant manager at Mumbai
Metro One. In April 2012, she disappeared suddenly and even though people were worried, the
family didn’t report her missing right away because of the complicated family issues.
Findings and Investigation
Case Name: Sheena Bora Murder Case
Case Investigator: Mumbai Police and later the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Date of Crime: April 24, 2012
Time: Approximately 6:00 PM (time Sheena was abducted and later murdered)
Location: Mumbai (murder occurred in Bandra area; body disposed in Pen village, Raigad district)
Victims: Sheena Bora, aged about 24-25 years
Culprits/Accused: Indrani Mukerjea (mother), Sanjeev Khanna (Indrani’s ex-husband),
Shyamvar Pinturam Rai (driver), Peter Mukerjea (accused of conspiracy)
Key Details: On April 24, 2012, Sheena Bora was abducted by Indrani Mukerjea, Sanjeev Khanna,
and Shyamvar Rai. She was strangled inside a vehicle and then her body was transported to a
secluded area in Raigad and burned. The crime remained undisclosed for years until Rai’s arrest
in 2015 in an unrelated case led to revelations about the murder. He revealed that Sheena was
strangled to death in a plot involving Indrani and her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna. They then
transported her body in a car, burned it in a forest near Raigad, Maharashtra, and disposed of the
remains.
Rai’s confession triggered a police investigation that led to arrests and uncovered much of the truth
hidden for years. Despite the passage of time, forensic experts were tasked with identifying the
remains that had been recovered earlier but remained unrecognized.
Role of Forensic Odontology in Identification
After her body was burned and thrown away, only skeletal remains were left like the skull and
some teeth and due to the time that had passed and the damage caused to the soft parts of the body,
the flesh had completely decomposed. It was impossible to identify her by usual methods like
fingerprints or seeing her face. In such situations forensic odontology – the study of teeth and jaws
to identify human remains became very important.
Why Teeth Were Important
Teeth are some of the strongest parts of the body and can survive even extreme conditions like fire
or decay. Each person has unique teeth, here are some special features:
• The size and shape of the teeth
• How the teeth are arranged or spaced
• The wear and tear marks on the teeth
• Treatments like fillings, root canals, etc.
These features allowed the experts to compare the remains with photos and dental information of
Sheena Bora.
Techniques Used
• Dental Comparison with Photographs: Since no dental records were available, experts used
high-quality photos of Sheena’s smile. They compared the photos with the teeth and
jawbones found.
• Digital Superimposition: Experts placed images of Sheena’s face and teeth over the skull
to check if the landmarks and patterns matched.
• Microscopic Examination: They studied the texture, enamel, and how the teeth fit together
to find matches.
• DNA Testing from Teeth: Genetic material taken from the tooth pulp helped confirm
Sheena’s identity. It matched with the DNA from her mother and brother.
Hence, because of this detailed and scientific work, the experts confirmed that the skeleton was
indeed Sheena’s, this provided undeniable strong proof of her death and linked it to the crime.
Impact of Odontological Evidence on the Case
Forensic odontology not only helped confirm that the remains were Sheena Bora’s but also played
a key role in the court trial against the accused. This evidence:
• Helped the police and prosecutors in proving that Sheena is the one that died.
• Supported confessions and other evidence against Indrani Mukerjea and others.
• Showed how reliable dental forensics can be when the body is damaged or decomposed,
making identification methods impossible in other ways.
This case showed how teeth can “tell a story” that helps uncover truth and hold the guilty
accountable.
Other Forensic Contributions
Besides odontological evidence, DNA profiling was crucial. DNA from tooth pulp and bones was
compared with samples from Sheena’s family members to remove any doubt. Forensic
anthropology also helped by examining the bones for signs of cause of death—strangulation in
this case. Together, these scientific methods created a solid chain of proof in the investigation.
Motive of Crime
The investigation revealed complicated family tensions. Indrani Mukerjea reportedly wanted to
keep Sheena’s true identity a secret due to personal and social reasons. Financial disputes and
Indrani’s opposition to Sheena’s relationship with her step-brother Rahul Mukerjea were reported
as motives for the killing. The extreme secrecy around Sheena’s real identity and relationship with
Indrani made this case unique and complicated.
Legal Proceedings and Media Attention
The trial received intense media coverage because of the personalities involved and the dramatic
nature of the crime. Forensic odontologists gave evidence explaining their scientific process,
which helped the court understand how dental evidence was trustworthy and essential, especially
when other physical evidence was missing. This case raised awareness about the value of forensic
odontology for criminal justice in India.
Lessons Learned and Importance of Forensic Odontology
The Sheena Bora murder case showed why forensic odontology is important for a few key reasons:
• Teeth are tough: They can survive rot and passage of time better than other parts of the
body, which makes them useful for identifying someone after they have passed away.
• Uniqueness: Each person’s teeth are unique, much like fingerprints. This helps in
identifying individuals with a high level of accuracy.
• Scientific Reliability: Dental analysis uses scientific methods and digital tools, which
allow experts to compare teeth even when there are no existing dental records.
• Complement to DNA: Dental evidence often works alongside DNA evidence. Together,
they give a more complete understanding of a case.
• Forensic Readiness: The case also showed that law enforcement should take dental
evidence seriously, especially in difficult or long investigations.
This case is a clear example of how forensic dentistry can help solve crimes when other types of
forensic evidence are not enough.
Challenges Faced
Even though the case ended successfully, it also had some difficulties such as:
• There were no proper dental records, so it was hard to compare things directly.
• The remains were in poor condition, which meant experts had to carefully analyze them.
This shows how important it is to have trained forensic dentists to prevent any evidence or
clue from geting destroyed.
• There was a delay in reporting and starting the investigation, which let some evidence get
damaged.
• The missing soft tissue and incomplete remains meant dental science had to work with
limited material.
Conclusion
The Sheena Bora murder case is a key moment in Indian forensic history that shows how important
forensic odontology is. When a body is missing or badly damaged, teeth and dental information
are some of the most dependable clues for identifying the victim. This case not only helped bring
justice for Sheena Bora but also made dental forensics more accepted in Indian Law. In many
criminal cases, teeth can be the only last clear proof left. Forensic odontology helps police by
turning this proof into solid, scientific evidence that can solve crimes and stop wrong decisions in
court.
References
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheena_Bora_murder_case
2. https://hindustantimes.com/inia-news/sheena-bora-murder-case-a-timeline-of-twists-andturns-101652784158501.html
3. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/sheena-bora-murder-case
4. https://deccanherald.com/india/sheena-bora-case-indrani-mukerjeas-daughter-allegesforgery-2687435
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Mukerjea
