Mumbai:
After the Maharashtra Government claimed a near breakthrough in the J Dey murder case, the Mumbai police has found little evidence to support the detention of three men alleged to be the shooters.
The three men were detained on Wednesday and said to be hired by the Chhota Shakeel gang at the behest of an alleged sandalwood smuggler, upset with an expose that Mr Dey was planning.
Sources say Mr Dey was "offered a bribe of ten lakhs to drop his story" but refused.
The men were identified as Mateen, Iqbal Hateyla and Anwar - all members of Chhota Shakeel gang.
Sources say the contract killing was allegedly organised at the behest of Dubai-based Zafar Kasim.
Kasim is said to have approached Chhota Shakeel to organise the contract killing and the plan was allegedly hatched between Pakistan, Dubai and India.
The police have recovered a motorcycle and car allegedly used in the crime.
Earlier Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said,"I only want to say this much, today there have been more developments. We are hopeful that there will be arrests. We are expecting a breakthrough."
The guarded statement, a response to the outrage among journalists in the city demanding a law to protect the media from attacks. A law the Maharashtra government has now promised to draft in Mumbai.