DEEPAK DALVIRSINGH SISODIA Vs. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The applicant is the accused No. 9 in MCOC Special Case No. 19 of 2011, pending before the Special Court constituted under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, 1999 (hereinafter referred to as 'MCOC Act'). He is in custody since 17 July 2011. By the present application, he prays for bail. I have heard Mr. Shirish Gupte, Senior Advocate for the applicant. I have also heard Mr. A.S. Gadkari, learned APP for the State.

(2.) The case relates to the murder of one Jyoti Nipendrakumar Dey (popularly known as J. Dey), a journalist. On 11 June 2012, at about 2.30 p.m., the said Jyoti Dey by proceeding on his motorcycle, reached at Pawai, Mumbai. Four persons who were travelling on two motorcycles had been following him, and one of them fired at J. Dey from a firearm. J. Dey was taken to hospital, but was declared to be dead before admission. The case was initially registered at Pawai Police Station vide C.R. No. 256 of 2011, but on the next day, the investigation of the said crime was transferred to Crime Branch, whereafter the C.R was renumbered as 57 of 2011 of the Crime Branch, Mumbai.

(3.) The investigation commenced. The accused Nos. 1 to 7, all came to be arrested on or before 26 June 2011. The investigation revealed that the murder of J. Dey was committed by the organized crime syndicate headed by Chhota Rajan, and therefore, the provisions of MCOC Act were applied to the said case.