Vora framed in J Dey murder: Tawde

The home ministry came under fire from the Opposition in the legislative council on Wednesday with leader of opposition Vinod Tawde accusing it of 'mala fide intentions’ while treating cases related to 26/11 terror accused Abu Jundal and journalist Jigna Vora.

The home ministry came under fire from the Opposition in the legislative council on Wednesday with leader of opposition Vinod Tawde accusing it of 'mala fide intentions’ while treating cases related to 26/11 terror accused Abu Jundal and journalist Jigna Vora.

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Tawde underscored the fact that Mumbai police had not been able to secure immediate custody of Jundal following his arrest. "Mumbai police took all the pains to get hair and blood samples of Jundal's father and sent them abroad for DNA verification. But Mumbai police did not get him first. Also, he had stayed in the state MLA hostel but the home minister denies it," Tawde said.

He also alleged that Vora had been framed in the J Dey murder case after police were unable to find the real killer. "Why would a gangster need Vora to give him details of another journalist's bike number, house address and photograph," Tawde said. The BJP leader added that even after eight months in jail, there is no forensic report to prove Vora’s guilt. He claimed that J Dey was murdered before he could expose match-fixing in the Indian Premier League.

Home minister RR Patil, however, refuted all charges. "Jundal was being interrogated by central investigating agencies and is now in our custody. We are inquiring into his roles related to the German Bakery blast, 26/11 terror attacks… [he] will even be handed to other states for investigation, if required," Patil said.

He added that Vora's case was sub judice. "If she was innocent, why have her lawyers failed to prove it? If you think the lawyers are not good, we can help her get good lawyers," Patil said.