Observing that there is no specific allegation to establish that the city police has links with the underworld, the Bombay high court today dismissed a bunch of petitions seeking CBI probe into the murder of senior crime reporter Jyotirmoy Dey.
Observing that there is no specific allegation to establish that the city police has links with the underworld, the Bombay high court today dismissed a bunch of petitions seeking CBI probe into the murder of senior crime reporter Jyotirmoy Dey.
"The allegations that since Dey has written several investigative stories regarding alleged nexus between police and the underworld and hence Mumbai police will not conduct an impartial investigation is extremely general in nature. No particulars about the alleged underworld connection are disclosed," Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice RV More observed.
The petitions seeking CBI probe had been filed in public interest by advocate VP Patil, Mumbai Press Club, Marathi Patrakar Parishad and former scribes S Balakrishna and Ketan Tirodkar.
The crime branch is currently investigating the case.
"There is nothing to even prima facie establish that the police officers investigating Dey's murder have links with underworld. In the absence of any material on record substantiating the allegations, it is difficult to hold that this is an exceptional case warranting transfer to CBI," the bench remarked.
Reacting to the order, Gurbir Singh, president of Press Club, said, "We are disappointed that our petition has been dismissed. Unfortunately, the circumstances remain largely the same --police has caught a couple of small fries and have no idea why and who masterminded the killing. In the interest of J Dey, we would appeal in the Supreme Court."
The court further said though it has the power to transfer investigations to CBI, it has to be used sparingly.
"Even assuming that this case has not only national but international ramifications, we do not feel that Mumbai police cannot successfully investigate it," the judges said giving an example of the probe conducted by crime branch in the 26/11 terror attack case.
On allegations by Press Club counsel Navroze Serwai that police is leaking contradictory probe details to the media which is affecting Dey's family, the court said, "Though we do not want to interfere with the administration of the police department, we do feel that time has come for Mumbai police to take some decision on this issue."
Suggesting for a balance to be struck, the court said frequent issuance of statements unnecessarily giving minute details of investigation would adversely affect the probe.
Dey, 56, employed as editor (investigations) with English tabloid, Mid Day, was shot dead on June 11 at suburban Powai.
According to the crime branch, the eight arrested persons had carried out the murder allegedly at the behest of fugitive underworld don Chhota Rajan.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}