Mumbai, June 14: After his abrupt transfer, a senior police officer, who could be questioned in the killing of investigative journalist Jyotirmoy Dey, today said he had nothing to do with the murder and that allegations against him were “absurd”.
Assistant Police Commissioner Anil Mahabole, in-charge of Azad Maidan division in south Mumbai who was shunted to Local Arms Control Room in suburban Naigaon yesterday, said he was being falsely implicated in the case. "The allegations against me in the case (Dey's killing) are absurd and wrong. I have nothing to do with the case. I hope the investigating officials would be able to detect the case early and catch the culprits soon to clear the air," Assistant Police Commissioner Anil Mahabole told reporters at his residence in south Mumbai.
He also denied media reports linking him with the underworld.
As Mumbai police failed to make any headway in cracking the case, there is a move to question former Congressman and oil mafia kingpin Mohammed Ali, currently lodged in a local jail. The hand of oil mafia in killing of 56-year-old Dey last Saturday in suburban Powai is not being ruled out by police. Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan when asked about possible involvement oil mafia's involvement in the killing said, “It is for the police to say that who they think are responsible.”
Chavan also said Mumbai police should not be “undermined” and given a fair chance to investigate the case. Mahabole alleged that media is being used by some people to target him.
“Media is being fed by some people against me. They (some people) are the ones who are trying to falsely implicate me in Dey's case,” he said.
When asked who they were, he replied, “I do not know. You find out.”
A senior crime branch officer yesterday had said if required, Mahabole, against whom Dey had written some articles in his tabloid Mid-Day, may be questioned. Mahabole said he had very cordial relations with Dey, whom he met two to three years ago.
“I have no idea about my transfer. I am on a leave for three days. After I resume duty, I will do whatever job I would be given. If I feel that injustice was meted out to me through the transfer, I would request my seniors to look into my transfer once again,” he said.
A day after mediapersons demanded a CBI probe into the killing of Dey, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said the Mumbai police should not be “undermined” and given a fair chance to investigate the brutal murder. “I am confident Mumbai police will get to the bottom (of the case). Give them time...There is no pointing in jumping the gun...and blaming someone or the other...Just give some time to Mumbai police to investigate,” Chavan said. “...Late night(yesterday), I got to know that there is more progress...We hope to catch the culprit soon,” he said. A senior crime branch official said since the police was probing the possible role of oil mafia in the killing of Dey it may question Mohammed Ali who is currently lodged in Arthur Road jail.
However, the official did not clarify whether Ali would be questioned in the jail itself or the crime branch will approach court seeking his custody. Ali(48) was allegedly involved in smuggling marine diesel from the high seas and illegal scrap material in the dock area. PTI
