J Dey murder trial: Wife deposes in MCOCA court

Senior crime journalist Jyotirmoy Dey was tense a week before he was murdered and his behaviour had changed, said his wife Shubha Sharma on Monday in her deposition before the special MCOCA court.

Senior crime journalist Jyotirmoy Dey was tense a week before he was murdered and his behaviour had changed, said his wife Shubha Sharma on Monday in her deposition before the special MCOCA court. 

J Dey’s wife told the court that he was not his usual self and was tense a week before he was murdered.(HT File Photo)

Dey was shot dead in Powai on June 11, 2011, when he was on his way home. On Monday, Sharma was examined by special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharath. She said on the day of the incident she was waiting for Dey for lunch. Meanwhile, a journalist friend of Dey called her to ask about his whereabouts. She said the journalist soon called back to inform that he was shot and had been taken to hospital.  

In her deposition, Sharma said on May 30, 2011, the day of her mother’s birthday, the family had gone on a picnic to Aksa beach and Dey was not his usual self and was tense. On June 4, 2011, Dey had gone to meet one of the accused Vinod Chembur and returned worried at midnight , Sharma said.   She added that Dey never brought his work at home. 

Later, Sharma was cross-examined by the defence lawyers. and asked about threats he received from Anil Mahabole, a cop. She said the officer threatened Dey for supporting a journalist who was implicated in a false case over a story.  The deposition lasted for almost two hours and to several questions, she said she doesn’t remember many detailes as five years had passed.