Mid-Day

On Friday morning, the Mumbai Crime Branch made its twelfth arrest in the sensational killing of MiDDAY Editor (Investigations) J Dey, by arresting senior crime journalist Jigna Vora.


Jigna Vora

She has been charged under Section 120 (b) of IPC (conspiracy), read with 302 (murder) and MCOCA.

The police say she passed on information such as email IDs, residential addresses, motorcycle number and J Dey's movements to the organised crime syndicate, based on which the murder was orchestrated.

Defence advocate Girish Kulkarni said that everything Vora spoke about pertained to an interview which was carried in a newspaper. He argued that as the police had confiscated all Vora's modes of communication ” her personal computer, cell phone, etc ” they could retrieve any information they needed, so there was no question of keeping her in police custody. The defence wanted judicial custody in the matter.

She has been sentenced to police custody until December 1.

Vora is currently working with an English daily in Mumbai.

Senior Police Inspector (Crime Branch, Unit 1) Ramesh Mahale confirmed the arrest and subsequent slapping of charges of conspiracy under the stringent MCOC Act against Vora.

Mahale added that the journalist would be produced before the special MCOCA court at 2.30 pm this afternoon. A media briefing has also been scheduled at 4.00 pm today, to be addressed by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy.


J Dey

According to police, Vora was questioned twice and has been accused of providing Chhota Rajan with Dey's motorcycle number as well as the address to his Ghatkopar residence.

The Crime Branch had earlier submitted a confidential letter to the special MCOCA court, providing details about the role of a journalist, which it wanted to probe in connection with the murder. Accordingly, on November 4, the court granted an extension of 30 days for filing the charge sheet.

The Crime Branch claims to have in its possession a telephone conversation between Chhota Rajan and some others, claiming that the journalist had provided information, police sources said.

Dey, 56, was shot dead by four motorcycle-borne assailants in suburban Powai on June 11.