Dey’s Death Caused by Friction Between Underworld Dons?

Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (SP)

Mumbai, Jun 29: One of the theories the police are now investigating, is that journalist, J Dey’s assassination was the result of bitter tussle between two underworld fugitives, Chhota Rajan, and Santosh Shetty. Police sources confirmed that Dey used to get calls from both Rajan and Shetty.

Shetty, who was working for Dawood Ibrahim, joined the Rajan gang in 1994, immediately after separating from Dawood’s gang. Reportedly, Shetty had helped Rajan to escape from the police net in Dubai, and to get a safe destination to stay. Later, Shetty had to remain in jail in Nasik for about five years, relating to a crime. Later, Shetty’s name was linked to the death of Bharat Nepali and Datta Samant. In 1999, Shetty was exonerated from cases against him, and he shifted his base along with Nepali to Bangkok. Rohit Verma, who was close to Rajan, was already functioning there, it is said. In an assassination bid launched by Chhota Shakil gang on Rajan on September 17, 2000, Rohit Verma was killed, and Rajan survived. Shetty and Nepali reportedly provided protection to Rajan during this incident.

Because of differences of opinion on finances, Shetty severed his links with Rajan gang and started operating independently since 2004, and Nepali joined his gang in 2008.  It is said that Shetty got angry that Nepali tried to kill a person who was close to the former, and relating to this incident, he supposedly killed Nepali.

Bharat Nepali was killed earlier this year. In a report that appeared on the front page of Mid-day newspaper, this killing was attributed to Santosh Shetty. In his report, Dey had said that Shetty had confirmed that this killing was executed by his henchmen. It is said that after this news appeared, Rajan called Dey to claim that his men were behind this assassination.

As Chhota Rajan maintained links with Dey for reporting his underworld activities, Dey is thought to have got access to a treasure of information about the underworld don. The police suspect that Dey had been warned by Rajan to take proper care and check details before making reports featuring Santosh Shetty. It is felt that Rajan took the extreme action of eliminating Dey because of the fact that the former was not comfortable with the fact that Dey continued to meet certain persons he hated. Hence, the police are of the opinion that Dey’s killing was for professional reasons and not on account of any personal rivalry.