Mumbai: A special court on Monday extended
till January 3 the judicial custody of all the eleven accused,
including woman journalist Jigna Vora, arrested in connection
with the murder of the senior crime reporter Jyotirmoy Dey.
Vora, who had, on December 13 filed an application in
the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA)
court, seeking an in-camera trial in the case and restraining
media from running stories on anonymous names, withdrew the
prayer of conducting the trial in-camera.
However, special public prosecutor Dileep Shah argued
in the court that the provision of the in-camera trial under
MCOCA is only for the protection of the witnesses.
"Witnesses can only make such an application or else
it should be in public interest. Accused have no such right to
make such application," argued Shah.
Shah also argued that the allegations made in the
applications are very vague and the court cannot restrain the
media as it is not a party to the proceedings.
"Media is not a party to the case and when it is not a
party it cannot be restricted from doing something," argued
Shah. The court is likely to pass an order on the application
on December 23.
Further, Shah also said that Vora`s application has
not mentioned, which media should be restrained. "Which media
is it? Is it local media, state media, national media or
international media?" argued Shah. He further said that media
should be given an opportunity of hearing.
While the defence lawyers told the court that
confessions of the accused should be provided to them so they
can file for bail application in future, Shah raised objection
saying that an application would be filed in the court that
the copy should be truncated (in which, names of the witnesses
are erased) before giving them.
Meanwhile, one of the accused Anil Waghmode today
filed a bail application in the court saying he is suffering
from serious illness, while the bail application will be heard
on December 30.
Vora, was arrested on November 25 under MCOCA, on charges of providing
key information like supplying licence plate number of the
motorcycle and address of the slain journalist to Rajan.
Joseph was arrested earlier and remanded from time to time in
police and judicial custody.
On December 3, police had filed charge sheets against
arrested accused -- Rohee Thangappan Joseph alias Satish
Kalya, Abhijeet Shinde, Arun Dake, Sachin Gaikwad, Anil
Waghmode, Nilesh Shendge, Mangesh Agawane, Vinod Asrani,
Paulson Joseph and Deepak Sisodia.
Police have alleged that Rajan was upset with two
articles written by Dey, which portrayed him in bad light and
hence by murdering the journalist, he wanted to send a message
to the media that those who write against him, would be
targeted. Jigna had instigated the overseas-based underworld
to kill Dey due to professional rivalry, according to the
3,055-page chargesheet.
A supplementary charge sheet would be filed at a later
date against Vora, the eleventh arrested accused in the case,
police have said.
PTI
