‘Invoke MCOCA against Dey’s killers’

The first hearing into the public interest litigations, demanding a CBI probe into the murder of senior journalist J Dey, was conducted on Tuesday. HT reports.

The first hearing into the public interest litigations, demanding a CBI probe into the murder of senior journalist J Dey, was conducted on Tuesday. The next hearing is scheduled for July 6.

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Justifying the plea for a CBI probe, advocate VP Patil pointed out that home minister RR Patil had stated on Monday “aaropi phar hoshiyaar aahe” (the accused are very smart). “This alone calls for a CBI investigation,” VP Patil said.

Advocate general Ravi Kadam said, “Every angle is being looked at and nobody is being spared.” Kadam said scientific (forensic) tests were being carried out and would take time. “If something comes up before the next hearing we will approach the high court,” Kadam said.

Ketan Tirodkar, one of the petitioners, argued that the Maharashtra Control Of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) should be invoked. “One of the conditions for invoking MCOCA is that it needs to be a contract killing or a professional shootout.

SK Nair, advocate for one of the petitioners, referred to the Vohra committee report prepared after the 1993 blasts, which specified a police-underworld nexus. Kadam said it was for the home ministry to decide on the report.