India woman editor held over murder of journalist J Dey

Jyotirmoy Dey was one of Mumbai's top crime reporters

A senior woman journalist in the Indian city of Mumbai has been arrested for her alleged role in the high-profile killing of a prominent crime reporter in June, police have said.

Jigna Vora, deputy bureau chief of English daily Asian Age, is accused of "conspiracy to murder" Jyotirmoy Dey, who worked for Mid Day newspaper.

Mr Dey, 56, was shot dead by four men on motorcycles.

Police earlier said the killing was carried out by a professional gang.

Investigations editor

"Jigna Vora... has been arrested today [Friday] as she played a role in the conspiracy hatched to murder Mr Dey," senior police officer Himanshu Roy was quoted by news agency Press Trust of India as saying.

She had been questioned by the crime branch in connection with the case several times, he said.

Before he was killed, Mr Dey - who wrote under the byline J Dey - had submitted a number of stories on the city's "oil mafia", which sells adulterated fuel.

Mr Dey was returning home on his motorcycle when he was shot dead by men on motorcycles, who sped away after the incident.

He was one of Mumbai's top journalists reporting on crime and had worked for leading newspapers like The Indian Express and Hindustan Times, before joining Mid Day as the investigations editor.