The three suspects Anwar Mateen, Iqbal Hatela and Sheikh believed to be associated with notorious underworld don Chotta Shakeel, were picked up from Mumbra area in Thane district by Powai Police, which had handed them over to the Crime Branch.
The three suspects were thoroughly interrogated to ascertain their possible role in Dey’s killing, but nothing positive was revealed from the accused and hence they were left off.
A police official of Powai police station said that the three suspects would be called for questioning again if required. The police also seized the car which was in possession of the suspect Anwar Mateen.
Meanwhile, the hunger strike by journalists in Mumbai continued for the second day relating to the murder of Dey. More than 1,000 journalists had joined the hunger strike on Thursday.
The journalists denounced the Maharashtra government’s refusal to hand over the probe into journalist Dey’s murder to the Central Bureau of investigation (CBI), and their demand for the resignation of Home Minister R.R. Patil and suspension of Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik.
Mumbai Press Club secretary Sunil Shivdasani said that the Maharashtra government has promised to bring in a law to protect journalists but refused to hand over the Dey murder probe to the Central Bureau of investigation.
