J Dey murder case: Cops claim substantial progress

Police on Monday claimed 'substantial progress' in investigation into the murder of veteran journalist Jyotirmoy Dey as they get ready to file a status report in the Bombay High Court on Tuesday.

"We have made substantial progress and inched closer to cracking the case," Additional Police Commissioner (Crime) Deven Bharti told reporters. "We have also reviewed the probe done so far and will brief the advocate general who will apprise the court about the status of the case," he said.

The high court had on June 16 directed the Maharashtra government and police to file on June 21 a status report on the probe into the June 11 murder of the 56-year-old scribe amidst growing demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry.

Police have also accessed the personal email data of Dey, which Bharti claimed, helped the investigators to get 'some positive' leads in the case.

Dey's mobile phone call records had also been verified, Bharti said, adding, 'hours before being shot dead, the journalist had gone to a courier firm's office to send visa and passport-related documents to the Philippines tourism office in Delhi. He was to go on a junket'. Dey, editor (special investigation), Mid-Day, who extensively covered underworld and crime for over two decades, was gunned down by four assailants in suburban Powai.

The documents seized from the crime reporter's residence indicated that he was also assisting some person for a film script. "We have got some details following the interrogation of oil mafia kingpin Mohammed Ali and we are verifying them," Bharti said.

Police have so far questioned at least 40 persons, including Assistant Commissioner of Police Anil Mahabole (who had filed a criminal defamation case against Dey in 2005) in connection with the murder.

The Crime Branch, which is handling the case, did not want to leave any stone unturned to ensure that the probe does not slip from its hand and goes to the CBI, an officer said.

"We will put up a strong case from our side." Meanwhile, in a fresh initiative from the Mumbai Press Club, national editors of major print and TV news networks will meet Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday to express their concern about the lack of any headway in the Dey murder case. The editors, along with a few representatives of journalist organisations, will also demand transfer of the investigation to the CBI.