J Dey murder accused seeks extension of bail on health grounds

Real Estate developer Vinod Asrani, alias Vinod Chembur, an accused in the murder of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey, today moved the Bombay High Court seeking extention of bail granted to him earlier on medical grounds.
His lawyer Adhik Shirodkar told a bench of Justices P V Hardas and Reveti Dhere that Asrani had chronic liver and kidney problems and needed constant medical attention which was not possible in jail. Hence, Asrani was urging extension of bail given to him in December last year on the same ground.
Hearing the plea, the bench asked the prosecution to file its say on September 20 and adjourned the matter until then.

The same bench had on Tuesday dismissed Asrani's plea for discharge while relying upon a confession of a co-accused which allegedly hinted at the role played by Asrani in the conspiracy.
The High Court, however, after perusing the material submitted by the prosecution, held that there was prima facie evidence against Asrani.
Shirodkar said the police had in their possession a recorded telephonic conversation between gangster Chhota Rajan and his associate wherein the former said that Asrani was unnecessarily arrested in the case and that he was not involved.
Asrani is accused of calling Dey to a suburban hotel and identifying him to members of Chhota Rajan gang who allegedly shot the journalist dead in suburban Powai on June 11, 2011.

A month after Dey was shot dead, Asrani was arrested under stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).