Mumbai Police to seek US firm's help in Dey murder case

MUMBAI: After arresting seven suspects in connection with the murder of senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey, Mumbai Police is consulting a US firm to enhance quality of the CCTV footage that show assailants trailing the scribe on the fateful day.

The footage obtained from a CCTV installed at D-Mart, a shopping centre in Hiranandani area, shows motorcycle-borne assailants closely following Dey minutes before he was shot dead.

Dey too was riding a motorcycle when he was fired upon on June 11 near Spectrum Building in the upscale suburb.

Four attackers on two motorbikes followed the 56-year- old Mid-Day crime reporter before closing in and executing their plan, the footage showed.

The murder, however, was not captured by the CCTV. One of the gunmen is believed to be Rohit Thangappan alias Satish Kalya, a member of fugitive underworld don Chhota Rajan's gang. Rajan had allegedly plotted the murder, given the contract to the killers and arranged for the weapon used in the crime.

"Whatever footages we have are very blurred. Since we want the footages, which are vital pieces of evidence, very clear, we are in consultation with a US based technology firm, which could enhance its quality," a crime branch official said.

On Sunday night, police had arrested Rohit Thangappan alias Satish Kalya (34), Abhijeet Shinde (28), Arun Dake (27), Sachin Gaikwad (27), Anil Waghmode (35), Nilesh Shendge (34) and Mangesh Agawane (25) in connection with Dey's murder.