BeyondHeadlines Staff Reporter
Mumbai: In a shocking and tragic incident, a senior journalist with Mid-Day, an English daily, was gunned down today in broad day light in suburban Powai here by four motorcycle-borne unidentified persons.
Jyoti Dey (56) was heading the crime bureau at Mid-Day and was the Investigation Editor. Joint Police Commissioner (Law & Order) Rajnish Seth said Dey was shot dead in Hiranandani area of Powai.
According to the police, four persons riding on two bikes opened fired at Dey this afternoon. The shooters escaped from the spot, police said.
He has reported extensively on oil Mafia operating off the coast. He was declared dead on arrival at the Hiranandani hospital, sources said.
Expressing shock over ace crime journalist J Dey’s killing in Mumbai today, Maharashtra PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal said the journalist did not ‘target’ any gang or mafia in particular.
Asked if the killing could be linked to elements from the underworld or the oil mafia, Bhujbal, former Home Minister, said, “Dey was a very honest person. He used to write on underworld. He was not targeting anyone in particular, whether any gang or any (oil) mafia.”
“We are very much shocked to hear this tragic news,” Bhujbal said. He recalled having attended book release of ‘Zero Dial’, written by Dey about informers, three months ago, in presence of actor Ajay Devgan.
“Dey was not blackmailing anyone. He was a very honest person. I never imagined this would happen to him,” he said.
“I think police will come to know in some time why he was killed,” Bhujbal said.
Mid-Day Editor Sachin Kalbag termed it a ‘tremendous loss’ but clarified that it would be too early to ascertain the motive behind the killing.
