Vinod Asrani alias Vinod Chembur, a key aide of underworld don Chhota Rajan who had allegedly identified journalist Jyotirmoy Dey to shooters who gunned him down, died here on Friday.
It was also on Friday that Chembur’s application seeking permission to go to Singapore for a liver transplant was to come up for hearing before the Bombay High Court.
Chembur was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital here last month after he complained of lung and heart disease. He succumbed to illness during the course of treatment. “Every detail regarding his role in the murder has been put on record and this [the death] will not have any bearing on the case whatsoever,” said a police officer.
Arrested in 2011, he was out on bail since 2012 and was granted permission to go to the U.K. for a liver transplant four months ago. He, however, applied again to go to Singapore.
Chembur was known for being a top cricket bookie and henchman of Rajan at whose behest the journalist, popularly known as J-Dey, was murdered nearly four years ago.
