A special CBI court convicted gangster Rajendra Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan and eight others for the murder of senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey on Wednesday.
They have been sentenced to life imprisonment. The court acquitted journalist Jigna Vora and Paulson Joseph, who had been a SIM card provider. All accused except Deepak Sisodia will also have to pay a fine of Rs 26 lakh each.
They were booked under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The case, which was initially probed by the Mumbai Police, was later transferred to the CBI.
Chhota Rajan has been lodged in Tihar jail in Delhi since 2015. He attended the court via video-conferencing.
The verdict comes nearly seven years after J Dey was shot dead in suburban Mumbai.
The 56-year-old journalist Dey was shot dead by motorcycle-borne shooters in Powai on 11th June, 2011. He was the Editor (Investigations) of Midday eveninger. He had also written two books: ‘Khallas: An A to Z Guide to the Underworld’ and ‘Zero Dial: The Dangerous World of Informers’.