Dey murder: Police say call from Yemen could be hoax

Police on Sunday said that the anonymous phone call from Yemen claiming that Indian Mujahideen (IM) was behind the murder of crime reporter J Dey, could be a hoax.

"The probe indicates it was a hoax call. But we want to double check before coming to a conclusion that it was a hoax call. We are in touch with the authorities of Yemen," a senior police officer said.

On Saturday, an anonymous caller phoned at the police control room from Yemen claiming that the IM had hired shooters from Hyderabad, Bihar and Srinagar and paid Rs4 lakh to kill Dey.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police Anil Mahabole was grilled by police on Saturday in connection with the murder.

"Mahabole was questioned for several hours yesterday. His statement was recorded and he was allowed to go. During the interrogation, Mahabole claimed that he had cordial relations with Dey and he had no role in the murder," a top crime branch official said.

Crime Branch sources said that he was questioned for over five hours, during which, the ACP appeared tense and kept on repeating that he had nothing to do with the killing.

Mahabole had, in 2005, filed a criminal defamation case against Dey after the latter's news report, in which, the ACP's reputation was allegedly put in a bad light, police said.

Mahabole said: "I told the Crime Branch what I had to. I don't want to disclose as to what questions I was asked." However, police said that they may summon the ACP again, if required.

One more Public Interest Litigation was filed in the Bombay High Court, seeking CBI probe into the murder.

The PIL, filed by S Balakrishnan, Editor of Deshbhakti Andolan Weekly, an English tabloid, on Saturday, will come up for hearing on June 21, along with other petitions, which are also seeking a CBI probe into Dey’s killing.