Journalist J Dey Murder case: Chhota Rajan's phone calls to four journalists become key evidence in the case; Gangster said 'it's okay'

Gangster Chhota Rajan was convicted in the Journalist J Dey murder case by a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court on Wednesday in Mumbai. The special court sentenced him to life imprisonment for the murder of senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey.

According to The Times of India, Rajan was confident of an acquittal in the murder case owing to a lack of direct evidence. However, a live TV interview in which the gangster acknowledged his involvement in the murder ultimately became his undoing.

"He was confident that he would be acquitted in the J Dey murder case as there was no direct evidence. However, the journalist fraternity stood by the prosecution and gave voice samples of Rajan's live TV interview openly admitting to having ordered Dey's killing, claiming that the latter was trying to tarnish his gang's image," a police officer was quoted as saying in the report. This call records proved to be the key evidence that sealed Rajan's fate behind the bars.

In a bid to assert his dominance in the underworld, Rajan had made calls to four journalists after Dey's murder and claimed responsibility for the attack, Hindustan Times reported. After the conviction was pronounced by the special court in the first half of the proceedings, the court explained it to Rajan in Marathi. The gangster nodded and said, “Theek aahe” (It’s okay).

The seven accused was held by court in the Journalist J Dey murder case along with Chhota Rajan--- sharpshooter Rohit Tangappa, alias Satish Kalya (42), Arun Dake (32), Anil Waghmode (42), Mangesh Aagavane (31), Sachin Gaikwad (33), Abhijeet Shinde (32), and Nilesh Shedge (40) — guilty of conspiracy, murder.

The ninth accused, Deepak Sisodia from Uttarakhand was acquited by the court but held him guilty of criminal conspiracy under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

According to TOI, a 599-page judgment copy made available to the accused, special judge Sameer S Adkar said, “The prosecution has proved that the murder of J Dey was committed in a well-planned manner and in pursuance of the criminal conspiracy. It was an organised crime committed by the organised crime syndicate of Chhota Rajan. Five bullets were fired at Dey. The murder of Dey was a cold-blooded act.” Special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat had examined 155 witnesses during the trial.

“The accused were entitled to rebut the presumption — under MCOCA — by adducing necessary evidence but, unfortunately, instead of doing so, they chose to be in denial mode,” said the judgment.

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