The Khushwant Singh Literary Festival, held in Kasauli, has drawn significant backlash for featuring Indrani Mukerjea—an accused in the high-profile murder case of her daughter, Sheena Bora—as a panellist and performer. On Friday evening, Mukerjea delivered a dance performance, sparking heated discussions across social media, where many questioned the decision to spotlight her at such an esteemed event.
This isn’t the first time Mukerjea has appeared at the festival; she was also a panellist at last year’s edition. However, her recent involvement has ignited criticism from festival attendees and internet users alike, who argue that her appearance seems to serve as a PR opportunity following her release from prison.
“Seeing Indrani Mukerjea perform and be legitimised at a Lit Fest, that too one named after Khushwant Singh, makes me sick to the pit of my stomach,” wrote Joy Bhattacharjya on social media platform X. Numerous others echoed this sentiment, with some describing the appearance as an exercise in “image whitewashing.”
Another user, Vikash Chauhan, voiced his frustration: “It’s disheartening to see someone like Indrani Mukerjea celebrated at a Lit Fest named after Khushwant Singh, whose legacy stands for integrity and honesty. This sends the wrong message about accountability and justice. We should be elevating voices that inspire and uplift, not those that embody controversy and scandal.”
The festival’s choice to feature Mukerjea has led many to question the underlying social dynamics that can seemingly allow affluent figures to re-establish their public image despite serious accusations. One social media user, Rajat, remarked, “The Indian society is conditioned to worship the rich, not good or bad. She is rich, hence can get away with murder, release her Netflix Shows and whatnot,” referencing the recent Netflix docu-series The Indrani Mukerjea Story: Buried Truth, which explores the 2012 disappearance of Mukerjea’s daughter, Sheena Bora.
Another user echoed the dismay: “How are we mainstreaming and legitimising her? Has everyone lost all moral judgement?”
About Indrani Mukerjea
Indrani Mukerjea, a former media executive, rose to national infamy in 2015 after being implicated in the 2012 murder of her daughter, Sheena Bora. Alongside her ex-husband Sanjeev Khanna and driver Shyamvar Rai, Mukerjea was arrested and charged with murder, conspiracy, kidnapping, providing false information, and destroying evidence. She spent several years in prison before being granted bail by India’s Supreme Court in May 2022. Mukerjea, who holds British citizenship, was also granted permission to travel abroad earlier this year.
