Photos: Indian media magnet is charged with murdering his step-daughter

One of India's leading media magnates has been formally charged with murder over the death of his stepdaughter.

Peter Mukerjea, the former CEO of Rupert Murdoch's Star India network, has been accused of conspiring to kill his wife's daughter, Sheena Bora, in a case that has gripped the country.

He has also been charged with abduction, destruction of evidence and giving false information, an official with India's Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said. His wife Indrani Mukerjea is accused along with her driver and ex-husband of strangling Bora to death before dumping her body in a forest and setting it alight.

 Bora, 22, was Indrani's daughter from a previous relationship.

Sheena Bora (left) was allegedly murdered by her mother Indrani Mukerjea (right), the wife of Peter Mukerjea

She was murdered in April 2012 and her burnt body was discovered the following month in woods in the western state of Maharashtra, of which Mumbai is the capital. 

British-born Peter Mukerjea was CEO of Fox-owned Star India from 1997 to 2007 before leaving to start his own television venture and is seen as one of India's most successful media magnates. 

Peter Mukerjea was believed to be out of the country on the day of the murder but the CBI alleges he was actively involved in the conspiracy.

Various motives have been put forward for the alleged crime, including a financial dispute over property dealings and a dislike of Bora's relationship with Peter Mukerjea's son, Rahul.

Daily Mail