J Dey case: Judicial custody of accused extended till Jan 3

However,special public prosecutor Dileep Shah argued in the court that the provision of the in-camera trial under MCOCA is only for the protection of the witnesses.

“Witnesses can only make such an application or else it should be in public interest. Accused have no such right to make such application,” argued Shah.

Shah also argued that the allegations made in the applications are very vague and the court cannot restrain the media as it is not a party to the proceedings.

“Media is not a party to the case and when it is not a party it cannot be restricted from doing something,” argued Shah. The court is likely to pass an order on the application on December 23.

Further,Shah also said that Vora’s application has not mentioned,which media should be restrained. “Which media is it? Is it local media,state media,national media or international media?,” argued Shah. He further said that media should be given an opportunity of hearing.

While the defence lawyers told the court that confessions of the accused should be provided to them so they can file for bail application in future,Shah raised objection saying that an application would be filed in the court that the copy should be truncated (in which,names of the witnesses are erased) before giving them.

Meanwhile,one of the accused Anil Waghmode today filed a bail application in the court saying he is suffering from serious illness,while the bail application will be heard on December 30.

Vora,deputy bureau chief of ‘The Asian Age’ daily,was arrested on November 25 under MCOCA,on charges of providing key information like supplying licence plate number of the motorcycle and address of the slain journalist to Rajan. Joseph was arrested earlier and remanded from time to time in police and judicial custody.

On December 3,police had filed chargesheets against arrested accused — Rohee Thangappan Joseph alias Satish Kalya,Abhijeet Shinde,Arun Dake,Sachin Gaikwad,Anil Waghmode,Nilesh Shendge,Mangesh Agawane,Vinod Asrani,Paulson Joseph and Deepak Sisodia.

Police have alleged that Rajan was upset with two articles written by Dey,which portrayed him in bad light,and hence,by murdering the journalist,he wanted to send a message to the media that those who write against him,would be targeted. Jigna had instigated the overseas-based underworld to kill Dey due to professional rivalry,according to the 3,055-page chargesheet.

A supplementary charge sheet would be filed at a later date against Vora,the eleventh arrested accused in the case,police have said.