The Mumbai Crime Branch on Wednesday filed an application in the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court, seeking a 45-day extension to file the charge sheet in the J. Dey murder case.
The Investigating Officer submitted a sealed envelope, citing reasons why extension is needed.
The police have already arrested 10 persons in connection with the murder of the senior crime reporter, who worked with a tabloid here. He was shot dead a few months ago by four motorbike-borne assailants, allegedly at the behest of the fugitive gangster Chhota Rajan.
Stipulated deadline
Public prosecutor Dileep Shah told the court that the police were to file the charge sheet before the stipulated deadline of November 4. “But in the last two days, a lot of things have come up. The Investigating Officer has received some information. He should be given a chance for verification. We need time to verify certain things that have come up during the investigation.”
Mr. Shah claimed that certain reports in the media were hampering investigation. “What is there to conceal after certain reports have come in the newspapers? There were reports that a certain journalist has parted with certain information and that journalist has been interrogated. This is interference in the investigation.”
Filing the charge sheet at this point in time would adversely affect investigation, Mr. Shah said. “I have to keep the secrecy, protect witnesses and see that the evidence is not washed of.”
