J Dey met Dawood in Philippines: Witness
Deposing in the murder trial of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey, a senior television journalist on Thursday informed the court that gangster and prime accused Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan told him over a phone call that the deceased had shook hands with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
Chhota Rajan had played a key role in the murder of J Dey on June 2011 at Powai.
Rajan is charged with the conspiracy to eliminate the late journalist with the help of his aides. He is charged under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code, Arms Act and Maharashtra Control Of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
The senior TV journalist is the witness no 100 in the ongoing murder trial of J Dey. While being examined by the Special Public Prosecutor Pradip Gharat, the journalist told the court, "In the year 2011 after the murder of J Dey I had twice received phone calls by Chhota Rajan. I could recognise his voice as I talked to him earlier also. In the first call Chhota Rajan mentioned that Dey is doing 'all wrong things' and has written two-three news articles against him (Rajan)." "He also told me that Dey went to meet Dawood Ibrahim in Philippines and shaken hand with him," added the witness.
Chhota Rajan, in the his call to the senior TV journalist, also mentioned about the role of journalist Jigna Vora.
"Rajan told me that 'maine mara Dey ko' ( I killed Dey ) in his phone call to me. Rajan also said that Jigna Vora had given Dey's motorbike's registration number to him. Eventually, the following day, I informed the Mumbai Police authority about Rajan's conversation with me," said the witness.
The Mumbai Police had filed charge sheet against Chhota Rajan and his aide Nayan Singh Bisht (absconding), 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 under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in 2011.
Vora has been charged under provisions of the stringent MCOCA, the IPC (murder, criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence etc) and the Arms Act in the Supplementary charge sheet filed by the Mumbai Police.