Journo's murder: 'Give Mumbai police a chance'

A day after mediapersons demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the killing of senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey in Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday said the Mumbai Police should not be "undermined" and given a fair chance to investigate the brutal murder.

"I am confident Mumbai police will get to the bottom (of the case). Give them time...There is no pointing in jumping the gun...and blaming someone or the other...Just give some time to Mumbai police to investigate," Chavan told media persons at a CII function in Mumbai.

The CM said that the journalists had demanded a CBI enquiry into the incident and asked for enactment of a law to protect them, to which I told them, "Let's not write off Mumbai police and not undermine their morale..What about the common man who will they go to."

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On a query about suspected oil mafia's involvement in the killing, Chavan said, "It is for the police to say that who they think are responsible."

"Also, I will like to inform my media friends that I had a meeting with senior police officers . They told me that investigations are proceeding. I met them on Monday afternoon. They said they have further progressed... Late night, I got to know that there is more progress...We hope to catch the culprit soon," he said.

When asked about the sketch of the alleged killer, released by the police, Chavan said, "I can't tell you about the sketch...You need to ask the Mumbai Police about that."

Police had released a sketch of one of the four killers of Dey on Monday on the basis of description given by an eye-witnesses to the shoot-out incident.

The alleged killer is in the 20-25 age group and of medium built, with a height of around five-and-a-half feet. His complexion is black and he was wearing a blue raincoat at the time of the incident, police said.

Dey, who headed the crime bureau in Mid-day tabloid, was shot dead by four unidentified gunmen at Hiranandani complex in suburban Powai on June 11.