It is not everyday that one sees headlines like “India woman editor held over murder of journalist”. The arrest of Jigna Vora, deputy bureau chief (crime) of Asian Age, for her suspected involvement in the sensational murder of Mid Day editor (investigations) Jyotirmoy Dey has sent shock waves in journalist community.
Police suspect that Dey was killed in broad day light by underworld don Chota Rajan for a series of exposure done by Dey for his paper. Dey was shot dead by four motorcycle-borne assailants in Mumbai on June 11.
Vora, 37, was booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for being part of a conspiracy to kill Dey. The police say they suspect that Vora provided info about his whereabouts and his motor cycle number to Chota Rajan gang.
MCOCA is a tough law and carries a minimum punishment of five years in jail or a maximum of death sentence. Vora is also accused of sending pictures of Dey’s motorcycle, his office and home addresses to Rajan.
The police said that she had given evasive replies during questioning and had even tried to mislead them. Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik, however, said that the lady was only a suspect and should not be construed as a criminal at this stage.
Asian Age resident editor Hussain Jaidi says he has full confidence in Jigna Vora’s innocence in the case. Vora was seen breaking down in the court even as her colleagues tried to console her.
