Slain journalist J Dey's wife deposes before MCOCA court

The wife of slain journalist Jyotirmoy alias 'J' Dey today deposed before the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court here.

The court is conducting trial in the J Dey murder case in which gangster Chhota Rajan is the main accused.

To a question by the defence lawyer as to whether her husband had been threatened by a police officer, Shuba Dey said an assistant commissioner of police had threatened him once when he was trying to help a fellow reporter.

Dey was on Europe tour between April 28 and May 5, 2011, and upon return, his behaviour was normal, she said.

However, on May 30, when the couple went out for dinner, he appeared a bit tense, she told the court.

On June 7, 2011, Dey had told her he was meeting a 'contact' Vinod Chembur, she said.

On June 11, 2011, he left home in the morning and she learnt from his friend later that he had been shot. When she reached the hospital, he had been declared dead, Shuba said.

The court on August 31 this year framed charges against Rajan. According to CBI's supplementary charge sheet, Rajan had the veteran crime reporter murdered because he was miffed with some articles written by Dey, and also because a planned book of Dey portrayed Rajan as a 'chindi' (petty) criminal.

The book, "Chindi -- Rags to Riches", was to be about 20 gangsters who rose from humble origins.

Rajan was arrested at Bali airport in Indonesia on October 25, 2015, and deported to India.

The first charge sheet filed in 2011 named Satish Kaliya, Abhijeet Shinde, Arun Dake, Sachin Gaikwad, Anil Waghmode, Nilesh Shendge, Mangesh Agawane, Vinod Asrani, Paulson Joseph and Deepak Sisodia (all arrested) as accused.

Another charge sheet was filed against journalist Jigna Vora for allegedly instigating Rajan against Dey owing to her own professional rivalry.