J Dey killing: Cops submit status report in High Court

AG Ravindra Kadam handed over a confidential report prepared by the Crime Branch to the court pertaining to the investigations so far. After going over the report that was handed over in a sealed cover,Justice Desai and Justice R V More felt that the Mumbai Police should be given more time to crack the case. “They have made efforts. We should give them some time,” Justice Desai said. The court asked the police to file another report about the progress of investigations in two weeks.

Kadam told the court,“Every angle is being covered and nobody is being spared. The anxiety of the citizens is very high as a member of the Fourth Estate has been killed. There are no words to condemn it.”

Calling the investigation fake,Patil said the police was only producing reports and files but not making any arrests in the case. “If the Home Minister says that criminals are very clever and don’t leave evidence behind them,what is left in the case?”

Tirodkar argued that the state government should invoke the MCOCA so that informers come forward to help the police. He said contract killing amounts to an organised crime and the government should consider invoking the Act as the arrest of the accused is not necessary to apply its provisions.

“Commissioner of Police Arup Patnaik has issued a circular that shows the underworld links between the police and media,” Tirodkar said. On this,the court said: “There may be some nexus,but we won’t opine now. Let them investigate,they are awaiting something.”

“It is for the Mumbai Police to come clean and say they can find the culprits. It will help their image also,” Justice Desai said.

“We will take them to task if we feel they have not done it (investigation) properly,” she added.

Justice Desai told Kadam,“Convey our anxiety to your officers. See to it that not a minute is wasted.” The next date of hearing is July 6.