Four days after the murder of Mid Day journalist J Dey, police have detained three men, believed to be members of Chhota Shakeel gang, in connection with the killing.
"Three people have been detained. We are probing their role (in the case). We want to be sure (of their involvement in the crime) before jumping to a conclusion," a senior crime branch official said on condition of anonymity.
The three men were believed to be working for fugitive gangster Shakeel, the right hand man of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, and their antecedents were being verified, he said.
Jyotirmoy Dey, editor (special investigation) with Mid Day, who extensively covered underworld and crime for over two decades, was shot dead in broad daylight by four motorbike-borne assailants at Powai on June 11.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told reporters after the Cabinet meeting that there were "some developments" in the Dey murder case probe.
"There are some developments (in the Dey murder case probe). An important breakthrough is expected soon," he said but declined to elaborate, saying "You will be appropriately briefed (by the police)."
The chief minister said he had no idea if anybody has been arrested in connection with the incident.
Chavan said a cabinet sub-committee would be set up soon for preparing the draft bill for protection of journalists. The government, he said, hoped to table the bill in the legislative assembly during its monsoon session.
