Journalist's murder: Chavan says no to CBI probe

Mediapersons today staged a sit-in at the Mantralay premises here to protest the rejection of the demand for a CBI probe into the murder of senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey.

"The 15-member delegation of journalists which met the chief minister demanded a CBI enquiry, but the demand was rejected," Television Journalists' Association general secretary Prasad Kathe said.

The 56-year-old investigative journalist, who worked as Editor (Special Investigation) in Mid-Day, was shot dead by four unidentified persons in suburban Powai on June 11.

"We demanded that an ordinance be passed regarding (proposed) law to prevent attacks on journalists. The chief minister said he will put the draft before cabinet on June 15. The resignation from Home Minister R R Patil, and suspension of Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik were another two demands, which were also rejected," he said.

Chavan, however, assured the delegation that police had got some concrete evidence and there would be a break-through within two days.

"We will wait till June 15... (if not satisfied) journalists will start a relay hunger strike," he said, adding that, "After a week, we will move the Bombay High Court and file a petition seeking CBI probe."

Earlier, hundreds of journalists from print and electronic media participated in protest march from Patrakar Sangh to Mantralay (the state secretariat).

"The state government is sensitive to the feelings of journalists and is doing whatever it can to bring the assailants to book," Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who met the procession outside the secretariat, said.

Chavan also assured the mediapersons that he was personally monitoring the investigation.