J Dey case: Court extends custody of accused

The custody of the seven accused, arrested in connection with the murder of senior journalist J Dey, was extended till July 8 by a local court today.

The custody of the seven accused, arrested in connection with the murder of senior journalist J Dey, was extended till July 8 by a local court on Tuesday.

HT Image

The police told the court that they wanted to further question the accused in the backdrop of the arrest of the bookie-turned-builder and Chhota Rajan aide, Vinod Asrani alias Vinod Chembur.

With Asrani's arrest, the number of those held so far in connection with the case has reached eight.

Asrani, who was produced before a local court on Monday, remanded in police custody till July 7, police had said.

The police had last week arrested apprehended Rohee Thangappan Joseph alias Satish Kalya (34) and his associates Abhijeet Shinde (28), Arun Dake (27), Sachin Gaikwad (27), Anil Waghmode (35), Nilesh Shendge (34) and Mangesh Agawane(25) from the state and Tamil Nadu.

Dey (56), working with Mid Day, was shot dead by four motorcycle-borne assailants in suburban Powai on June 11.

Police claimed that Dey was eliminated at the behest of fugitive gangster Chhota Rajan, who allegedly paid Rs five lakh to the accused to get the 'job' done.

However, they said the motive behind the killing was not yet clear.