Hand over journalist murder case to CBI: BJP

Expressing "deep concern" that no headway has been made in the probe into the killing of journalist J Dey, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday demanded that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation for an "unbiased" investigation.

In a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said following media reports over the allegations of involvement of some police officials, it becomes all the more important that the probe be handed over to the CBI so that it is "carried out in an unbiased manner and in a credible way".

He expressed his "deep concern" that investigations into the crime have made no headway even after five days.

Gadkari also urged the Maharashtra chief minister to look into the possibility of the involvement of underworld dons "from here as well as from abroad" in the murder.

"As I understand, this incident also signals the joining of hands of criminal elements and terrorist elements," he said.

The BJP chief said quick action by the police would create a sense of confidence in the minds of media personnel in particular and the people in general.

Dey was gunned down by unidentified assailants last Saturday in suburban Powai.

Chavan, meanwhile, has said that the Mumbai police should not be "undermined" and given a fair chance to investigate the case.