J Dey murder witness identifies Chhota Rajan’s voice in tapes

Claims Rajan discussed killing of journalist post his murder

In the ongoing trial of journalist J Dey murder case, a witness closely knowing arrested gangster Chhota Rajan recorded his statement in the special court.

This witness, Manoj Shivdasani, is the person with whom gangster Chhota Rajan discussed Dey’s murder after he was brutally killed on June 11, 2011.

“The witness, Shivdasani, on Thursday deposed in court and a tape was played of conversation between him and Rajan. He identified his voice and Rajan’s voice in it,” said Special Public Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat.

According to the prosecution, the witness, Manoj Shivdasani, was a friend of another accused Vinod Chembur (now deceased) and Rajan used to speak to him.

The tape contains remarks passed by Rajan where he mentioned Dey as “kamina”, “Dawood se mila hua hai” (he had gone to Dawood’s side) and Rajan had also said that Dey has “crossed the limit”, and also referred to the name of arrested journalist Jigna Vora. 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.

The CBI filed another charge-sheet against journalist Jigna Vora for allegedly instigating Rajan against Dey out of professional rivalry.