J Dey verdict: Chhota Rajan sentenced to life in prison for murder; updates

The Jyotirmoy Dey murder case neared its end on Wednesday with a Special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court convicting mafia don Rajendra S Nikhalje, alias Chhota Rajan, and eight others guilty of the sensational murder of the journalist in 2011. MCOCA court sentenced gangster Chhota Rajan and seven others to life imprisonment in journalist Jyotirmay Dey murder case. Journalist Jigna Vora, a co-accused charged with conspiracy, was acquitted.

Judge Sameer Adkar also acquitted Paulson Joseph, who was accused of handling the financial operations concerned with the conspiracy.
Dey, 56, was shot by two motorcycle-borne men on June 11, 2011, in suburban Powai while on his way home. At that time, he worked as a senior editor for the tabloid Mid Day. According to the prosecution, the killing was carried out at the behest of Rajan, who was purportedly 'unhappy' with the negative reports Dey had been writing on his health and his diminishing clout in the underworld.

A total of 12 persons were arrested in the case, including Rajan, Satish Joseph (alias Satish Kaliya), the shooter, and Vora. One of the accused, Vinod Asrani, died after prolonged illness in 2015, pending trial.

The accused were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code pertaining to murder (302), criminal conspiracy (120(b)) and destruction of evidence (204), and under provisions of the stringent MCOCA and the Arms Act