Two weeks after crime reporter Jyotirmoy Dey was shot dead here, Maharashtra government today said the murder case has been cracked with the arrest of seven persons from Tamil Nadu.

Home minister R R Patil said three people were arrested from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, one from Solapur and three from Mumbai.

"All the seven hail from Maharashtra. Mumbai police commissioner and joint commissioner of police have informed me about the development," Patil said.

He identified two of the accused as Satish Kalya and Anil Waghmode.

"I have announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for the Mumbai crime branch team for exemplary work they have done in the case," Patil said.

Meanwhile, a police source said that an underworld link was surfacing in the incident and is being verified.
J Dey (56), working with the city-based English tabloid Mid Day, was shot dead by four motorcycle-borne assailants in suburban Powai on June 11. Dey was shot at from close range, reportedly by professionals, and a total of five bullets entered his body.

The murder of the veteran scribe had sent shock waves and the Mumbai police were probing the case from all angles. The police had also examined Dey's laptop and a hard disk besides some important documents to get a lead in the sensational murder.

Various journalists' associations have been demanding a CBI probe, but it was ruled out by the Maharashtra government.

Meanwhile, the arrested were produced before a local court here and were remanded in police custody till July 4. Among the seven, a few of them were sharp shooters hired by the mastermind of the crime, police sources said.