‘Have enough proof against bookie Vinod Chembur’

The prosecution on Monday told the court that it had enough evidence against bookie Vinod Asrani alias Vinod Chembur in the murder case of journalist J Dey. This statement was made while opposing Asrani’s discharge application. Chembur,who has been behind bars since the murder,had allegedly identified Dey to the shooters,a few days before the incident. Asrani,a common link between the accused,is booked under several Sections of the Indian Penal Code for murder,conspiracy.

J Dey (56),working with city-based English tabloid Mid-Day,was shot dead by four motorcycle-borne assailants in Powai on June 11 last year. Police claimed the journalist was killed at the behest of fugitive gangster Chhota Rajan,who allegedly paid Rs 5 lakh to the accused. Although the motive behind the killing has not been clearly elaborated in the chargesheet,the prosecution has claimed that Rajan ordered Dey’s murder because he was upset with some articles written by the senior journalist

A total of 11 persons,including journalist Jigna Vora,were arrested after the murder. Vora was released on bail in June this year and the others are still in jail. The Special MCOCA court has reserved the application for order.