Bookie aide of rajan held in J Dey Case

MUMBAI: Vinod Asrani, alias Vinod Chembur, was arrested on Sunday in connection with the murder of senior journalist J Dey.

Asrani is alleged to have provided money to the gangsters who shot Dey.

Based on the information provided by seven gangsters of the Chhota Rajan gang, arrested by Mumbai Police last week in connection with the case, the crime branch conducted raids in north-east Mumbai.

The gangsters had collected money from Chembur area for the operation. Police found that the person who handed over the money to shooters Satish Kalya and others was Vinod Asarani, known to underworld operatives as Vinod Chembur.

Asrani will be produced in court on Monday.

An officer of the crime branch said Asrani operated as a bookie and was picked up a few times for betting during international cricket matches. Police said that he handed over 2 lakh to Satish Kalya on a request from Chhota Rajan.