J Dey murder: Police may question oil mafia kingpin

The city police probing the killing of senior investigative journalist Jyotirmoy Dey, are likely to question former Congressman and oil mafia kingpin Mohammed Ali, currently lodged in a local jail.

Dey, 56, who had extensively covered underworld and crime for over two decades and was working with English tabloid Mid-Day, was shot dead in a broad daylight on Saturday by four unidentified bike-borne persons in suburban Powai.

"Since we are probing the possible role of oil mafia in the killing of Dey, we may question Mohammed Ali who is currently lodged in Arthur Road jail," said a senior crime branch official.

However, the official did not clarify whether Ali would be questioned in the jail itself or the crime branch will approach court seeking his custody.

Mohammed Ali Abu Shaikh, 48, and his four aides had been arrested from here while two sharp-shooters from Mughalsarai railway station in Uttar Pradesh in connection with the murder of Sayyed Chand Madar, 56, owner of a private firm in south Mumbai in September last year.

Ali and Madar were rivals as both were involved in smuggling marine diesel from the high seas and illegal scrap material in the dock area.