A fresh red corner notice will be issued against gangster Chhota Rajan for the murder of senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey, Maharashtra home minister R.R. Patil announced in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
“Rajan is behind Dey’s murder, and hence a red corner notice would be issued through the CBI for his arrest,” Mr Patil told the Legislative Assembly.
The minister also said that a sub-committee of ministers headed by senior Congress minister Narayan Rane will be submitting its report regarding the law, which will be formulated to tackle the issue of attacks on journalists.
Further, Mr Patil said that the Mumbai police has successfully investigated the case and arrested nine men. “The police has also recovered the weapons and vehicles used for attacking Dey. It has also been established that Rajan was behind the murder and he provided the accused with weapons and paid `5 lakhs for the hit,” he said.
When asked about journalists demanding an act to protect them from attacks while on job, Mr Patil said that there was a dispute about who can be called a journalist. However, now the information and public relation department after consulting various journalists organisations have come to define the term.
MLAs Shishir Shinde, Nana Patole and others had raised the calling attention motion in the House. Leader of the Opposition Ekanath Khadse, MLAs Pravin Darekar and Abu Azami asked questions on the same.
The MLAs argued that though some journalists might be accused of blackmailing and other illegal activities, such elements exists in every profession. However, reporters while collecting information, forming public opinion etc. have to take risks. Accepting the views of the MLAs, Mr Patil said, “If journalists are given the opportunity to express their views without fear, then democracy will prosper.”