J Dey murder: Court rejects Vora's plea seeking media gag

MUMBAI: A special court today rejected an application by journalist Jigna Vora, arrested in connection with the Jyotirmoy Dey murder case, seeking a direction to media to quote sources of their information while publishing stories regarding the crime.

"The special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) court has rejected the application as no case of defamation could be made out. The judge observed that no order can be passed against the media as it (media) is not a party," said special public prosecutor Dileep Shah.

Meanwhile, truncated copies of confessions of the three accused and statements of witnesses made before the magistrate have been supplied to the accused.

Vora, deputy bureau chief of English daily 'Asian Age', was arrested on November 25 under MCOCA on charges of sharing key information like about the number plate of the motorcycle and address of the slain journalist to Underworld don Chhota Rajan.

Crime Branch on December 3 had filed a charge sheet against arrested accused, namely 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.

According to police, the don was allegedly upset with two articles written by the 56-year-old scribe which purportedly portrayed him in a bad light. By murdering Dey, he wanted to send a message to media that those who write against him would be targeted.

Jigna allegedly instigated Rajan to kill Dey apparently 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 said.