Police arrest yet another suspect in J Dey murder

Mtoday news / NDTV

Mumbai, July 3:  The Mumbai Crime Branch today arrested Vinod Chembur in connection with the murder of senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey. The police suspect Vinod Chembur was the person who identified J Dey to the shooters.

Vinod Chembur, who is apparently also a bookie, has been remanded to police custody till 7th July. The Mumbai Crime Branch claims Vinod Chembur is a close aide of Chotta Rajan. Vinod allegedly also arranged money for the shooters. Eight persons have been arrested so far in the murder case.

Mr Dey, a senior crime journalist with Mid Day, known for his investigative reports on the underworld, was riding his motorcycle in Mumbai’s Powai suburb on June 11, when four men on two motorcycles pulled up. They shot five bullets at him. He was taken to a local hospital where he was declared dead upon arrival.

The Mumbai Police claims J Dey’s murder was carried out by a member of Chhota Rajan’s gang. Twenty days before Mr Dey was shot, Chhota Rajan, according to the police, called Mr Kalia and ordered the hit. Mr Kalia put together a gang of seven people for the assignment.

The men were paid 5 lakhs for the murder. They did not know who Mr Dey was, or his line of work. They were given a description of his physical appearance, and the license plate details of the two-wheeler he used. On June 11, they tracked him down in Mumbai’s Powai suburb, and shot him five times at close range with a Czech-made revolver.