A special court on Tuesday extended till January 3 the judicial custody of all the eleven accused, including woman journalist Jigna Vora, arrested in connection with the murder of the senior crime reporter Jyotirmoy Dey.
Vora, who had, on December 13 filed an application in the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court, seeking an in-camera trial in the case and restraining media from running stories on anonymous names, withdrew the prayer of conducting the trial in-camera.
However, special public prosecutor Dileep Shah argued in the court that the provision of the in-camera trial under MCOCA is only for the protection of the witnesses.
"Witnesses can only make such an application or else it should be in public interest. Accused have no such right to make such application," argued Shah.
Shah also argued that the allegations made in the applications are very vague and the court cannot restrain the media as it is not a party to the proceedings.
"Media is not a party to the case and when it is not a party it cannot be restricted from doing something," argued Shah. The court is likely to pass an order on the application on December 23.
Further, Shah also said that Vora's application has not mentioned, which media should be restrained. "Which media is it? Is it local media, state media, national media or international media?," argued Shah. He further said that media should be given an opportunity of hearing.
While the defence lawyers told the court that confessions of the accused should be provided to them so they can file for bail application in future, Shah raised objection saying that an application would be filed in the court that the copy should be truncated (in which, names of the witnesses are erased) before giving them.
Meanwhile, one of the accused Anil Waghmode today filed a bail application in the court saying he is suffering from serious illness, while the bail application will be heard on December 30.
