Jyotirmoy Dey (1955-2011) was an Indian investigative crime reporter and author known for his stories and connections in the Mumbai underworld. In June 2011, he was murdered by a professional killer. The 2023 web series Scoop is loosely based on the aftermath of his murder.
Wiki/Biography
Jyotirmay Dey aka J. Dey aka Jyotendra Dey aka Commander J was born in 1955 (56 years old; at the time of death). According to one source, he was born in Calcutta (formerly Calcutta) in the Indian state of West Bengal, while according to another source he was born in Bombay (formerly Bombay) in the Indian state of Maharashtra. He completed his education in West Bengal and worked at Hindustan Lever before pursuing a career in journalism in Mumbai.
appearance
Height (approximately): 6′3″
Hair color: black
Eye color: black
family
He was born into a Bengali family.
Parents and siblings
Jyotirmoy Dey’s father died in 2011 before he was murdered. His mother, Bina Dey, died on September 6, 2017, at her home on the first floor of Vraj Villa, Amrut Nagar, Ghatkopar. He has a sister named Lena.
wife and children
His wife’s name is Shubha Sharma. He has no children.
Jyotirmoy Dey and wife Shubha Sharma
Profession
reporter
Dey started his career at Hindustan Times, initially focusing on his passion for wildlife, particularly addressing issues related to forest encroachment and the delicate balance between people and animals in Borivali National Park. His investigative report on government encroachment on reserved parks caused an uproar in the state Legislature. After initially working as a freelancer for Afternoon Despatch and Courier, Dey delved into wildlife crime reporting in a variety of areas. In addition to writing, he also engages in photojournalism as a trainee reporter and photographer. He then moved to freelance writing for Mid Day, eventually joining the publication full-time. After joining The Indian Express in 1996, he began reporting on crime, particularly those related to Mumbai’s underworld. In 2005, he moved to Hindustan Times to continue his journalism career. However, he eventually returned to Mid Day, this time as crime and investigations editor, where he played a major role in covering crime-related stories.
author
He has authored two books on the Mumbai underworld: “Zero Dial: The Dangerous World of Informers” and “Karas”.
Book written by Jyotirmoy Dey, Khallas
death/murder
On June 11, 2011, Jyotirmoy Dey was attacked on his motorcycle while returning home from Ghatkopar, where his mother lived. The incident took place around 3 pm when four unidentified men on a motorcycle opened fire on him at Hiranandani Gardens in Powai. After the attack, he was initially admitted to Powai Hospital; however, due to insufficient facilities, he was soon shifted to Hiranandani Hospital. He was declared dead on arrival at Hiranandani Hospital with nine bullet wounds. Mumbai police said the murder could be a planned act and could be linked to Jyotirmoy Dey’s reporting on the oil mafia or the underground outfit Don Chhota Rajan because Dey had recently written about Chhota Rajan’s alleged involvement in the Mumbai shootings. Mumbai, including Iqbal Kaskar, brother of Dawood Ibrahim.
Letter from the then Director-General of UNESCO condemning Day’s murder
J Dey murder investigation
After preliminary investigation, Mumbai police handed over the Dey murder case to the crime branch. After sixteen days of hard work, the crime branch made a major breakthrough and arrested seven suspects from across India. The suspects are named Rohit Thangappan Joseph, alias Satish Kalia, Arun Dake, Anil Waghmod (Anil Waghmode), Babloo, Sachin Gaikwad, Mangesh Agarane and Chhottu, have criminal activity records. They are believed to be part of the notorious ‘NANA COMPANY’ gang, which is associated with Chhota Rajan. At a press conference, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy revealed that Rajan had contacted Kaliya to organize the shooting and Kaliya himself was identified as the person who fatally shot Dey . The commissioner stressed that the shooting was carried out at the behest of Rajan and that the alleged gunman did not know Dey’s profession.
The alleged role of journalist Jigna Vora
On February 21, 2012, Jigna Vora, deputy director of the Asian Age Bureau, was charged by the Mumbai Crime Branch under the Maharashtra Organized Crime Control Act (MCOCA) and other criminal offenses related to her alleged involvement in the high-profile incident Homicide. The charges include criminal conspiracy, murder and destruction of evidence, as well as provisions of the Arms Act and the International Criminal Court. Police had been monitoring Vohra since July 4, 2011, when they intercepted Vinod Asrani’s brother Manoj (who was also arrested) and gangster Chhota. A conversation between Chhota Rajan. Vora allegedly provided details of Dey’s motorcycle to Chhota Rajan. Police allege that professional rivalry prompted Vora’s involvement in Day’s murder. However, some believe the evidence against her is weak. On July 27, 2012, Vora was granted bail by a special court, taking into account his responsibilities as a single parent and his lack of previous criminal record.
Indian journalist Jigna Vora
J. Dey murder verdict
Chhota Rajan was arrested in 2015 and deported to India from Bali, Indonesia, after which the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) took over the investigation. On May 2, 2018, nearly seven years after Dey’s murder, the Maharashtra Organized Crime Control Act (MCOCA) court sentenced Chhota Rajan and eight others, including Satish Kaliya, Anil Waghmode, Abhijit, to life imprisonment Shinde, Nilesh Shendge, Arun Dake, Mangesh Akawane, Sachin Gaikwad and Deepak Sisodia were also fined Rs 26 lakh each. The court acquitted Jigna Vora and SIM card dealer Joseph Paulsen.
Chhota Rajan arrested in Bali
motive behind murder
According to the prosecution, a group of men associated with Chhota Rajan namely Satish Kaliya, Anil Waghmode, Abhijeet Shinde ), Nilesh Shendge, Arun Dake, Mangesh Agarane and Sachin Gaikwad departed at Dei Followed him after his mother’s residence. Kalya shot him using a .32 caliber pistol near Powai Garden, following which the gang fled the spot. Investigators revealed that Chhota Rajan was unhappy with the portrayal of himself as a petty criminal in a book Dey planned to write and repeatedly tried to prevent Dey from writing a story or book about him; however, when When Dey ignored him, Rajan ordered his assassination and hired a hit man for 500,000 rupees. The book, titled “Chindi – Rags to Riches,” aims to tell the life stories of 20 gang members who came from humble beginnings.
Facts/Trivia
- He loved his bike very much and called it ‘Rani’.
- On July 13, 2016, the Chowk near Powai Dmart supermarket was renamed as J Dey Chowk.
J Dey Chowk in Powai
- In 2023, 12 years after his murder, a web series “Scoop” was made based on the circumstances of his murder. His character is named Jaideb Sen and is played by Prosenjit Chatterjee. The character of Jigna Vora is named Jagruti Pathak and is played by Karishma Tanna.
Poster for the web series “Scoop” based on the murder of Jyotimo Dey
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education