Journalist J Dey was murdered over a book on Chhota Rajan, reveals CBI

CBI today filed a supplementary chargesheet against gangster Chhota Rajan in the J Dey murder case, claiming that the journalist was murdered because his articles and a book he was planning portrayed Rajan as chindi (a small fry).

The 300-page chargesheet was filed at the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court.

Dey, a veteran crime reporter, had planned a book, titled Chindi -- Rags to Riches, wherein he was going to write stories of 20 gangsters with humble origins.

Also read: Journalist J Dey murder case: CBI files supplementary chargesheet against Chhota Rajan

"Dey was going to expose the fake patriotic mask used by him (Rajan) to secure himself and to accumulate wealth for his family. The book was to have that Rajan had no concern for those who made him big," the chargesheet says.

The book was also to portray Dawood Ibrahim, Rajan's friend-turned-foe, as being superior to him.

Dey was planning to write two other books before leaving journalism, and he had met several people for the same and visited Philippines and other countries as well.

Rajan, who was reportedly hiding in Malaysia, had called Dey for a meeting but the journalist refused, CBI says.

In an intercepted conversation after Dey's death, Rajan "declared" Dey a "traitor" and his rival journalist Jigna Vora, an accused in the case, now on bail, as the one who instigated the murder, CBI says.

Rajan's henchmen who executed the murder conspiracy used to contact the gangster using international SIM cards which were activated only after midnight, it says.

The chargesheet has statements of 41 witnesses. It names Ravi Ram Rattesar, earlier shown as a witness, as an accused, because he was found to be a key link between Rajan and other accused and had supplied some 20 SIM cards at Rajan's instructions, said a CBI officer.

Also read: Journalist J Dey's murder case to be probed again as Chhota Rajan returns

-PTI