Jigna Vora is a former Indian crime reporter who made headlines in 2011 when she was arrested for her alleged involvement in the murder of renowned journalist Jyotirmoy Dey (fondly known as J Dey). She was acquitted of all charges in 2018.
She has worked for various media houses like the Free Press Journal, Mid-day, Mumbai Mirror, and the Asian Age. She underwent a spiritual transformation during her time in prison which led her to become a consciousness healer and Aatmic Awareness teacher. She is also a professional tarot card reader.
Early Life, Age & Birthday
Jigna Vora, born on 22 February 1974, is a well-known personality. As of 2023, she is 49 years old. Jigna Vora hails from Ghatkopar, Mumbai, which is her birthplace and hometown. Ghatkopar is a suburban area in the city of Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. It is a bustling locality known for its residential and commercial spaces.
Jigna Vora’s connection to her birthplace may have influenced her upbringing and early experiences. While specific details about her upbringing and early life are not mentioned, her birthplace plays a significant role in shaping her identity and journey.
Education
She pursued a bachelor’s degree in Law at DG Ruparel College affiliated with the University of Mumbai. She also obtained a diploma in mass communications from the K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai. At K. J. Somaiya, Velly Thevar, her faculty, and a well-known crime reporter working for The Times of India, sparked her interest in crime reporting.
Marriage, Husband & Kids
Jigna Vora got married on 4 December 1998 following her graduation from Ruparel College. It was an arranged marriage at the behest of her parents for which he had left an internship with a reputed law firm.
Her parents had told her that her husband was an engineer and ran a printing press in Bharuch, Gujarat. Later, she discovered the claims to be false leading to a tumultuous marriage and then separation. She has a son. In 2009, when her son was eight, Vora enrolled him in a Panchgani boarding school.
Parents & Siblings
Jigna Vora’s family background includes her parents and her grandfather. While her father’s name remains unknown, her mother was named Harshaben. Tragically, her mother has passed away, as mentioned in the information provided. The specific details about her parents’ professions or other personal information are not available.
In addition to her parents, Jigna Vora had a grandfather named Tulsidas Hargovindas. Unfortunately, no further information is provided about him, such as his occupation or any significant role he may have played in Jigna Vora’s life.
BIO/WIKI
| Name | Jigna Vora |
| Full Name | Jigna Jitendra Vora |
| Nickname(s) | JV |
| Profession(s) | Former Crime Reporter, Consciousness Healer, Aatmic Awareness Teacher, Tarot Card Reader, Astrologist |
| Date of Birth | 22 February 1974 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 49 Years |
| Birthplace | Ghatkopar, Mumbai |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Hometown | Ghatkopar, Mumbai |
| College/University | DG Ruparel College, Mumbai K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai |
| Height (approx.) | in centimeters: 165 cm in meters: 1.65 m in feet & inches: 5′ 5″ |
| Weight | 55 kilograms (approx.) |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Religion | Disciple of spiritual guru Satish Kaku |
| Ethnicity | Gujarati |
| Food Habit | Vegetarian |
| Controversies | Accused of J Dey’s Murder |
| Marital Status | Separated |
| Marriage Date | 4 December 1998 |
| Husband/Spouse | Name Not Known |
| Children | She has a son. |
| Parents | Father: Name Not Known Mother: Harshaben (deceased) |
| Grandfather | Tulsidas Hargovindas (deceased) |
| Salary (approx.) | In an interview, she revealed earning over Rs 1 lakh as the Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Asian Age |
| Net Worth | INR 6-7 crores (approx.) |
| Social Media | Instagram: jignavora21 |
| Twitter: JignaVora5 | |
| Facebook: #JignaVora | |
| Homepage | Dreshare.com |
Career
In 2004, Jigna Vora decided to pursue a career in media while solely raising her son as a single mother. She joined the Free Press Journal (FPJ) in November 2005 as a court reporter where her first task was to cover gangster Abu Salem’s case at the TADA court situated inside Arthur Road Jail. After three years in the FPJ, Vora earned a position with Mumbai Mirror where her assigned beat was the sessions court at Kala Ghoda Mumbai. Her interaction here with many accused and known criminals led her to take up crime reporting.
Jigna Vora covered her first underworld story in December 2005 when Sujata Nikhalje, who also happens to be gangster Rajan’s wife, was arrested for extortion threats against a builder. While working for Mid-Day, Vora set out on a big story about controversial encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma that shook the nation. In 2008, Vora joined the Asian Age and covered the sensational story of Jaya Chheda, who planned the murder of her ex-husband to get control over his thriving business in Mumbai.
The Murder of J Dey
It was in 2011 that her life and promising career came to a standstill. Jigna Vora was 37 years old and held the post of deputy bureau chief of the Asian Age’s Mumbai bureau. She was one of the two main suspects in the murder of crime journalist Jyotirmoy Dey (J Dey), who was shot and killed in Mumbai by unidentified assailants in Hiranandani, Powai.
The police alleged that Vora had passed on information about Dey’s whereabouts and movements to gangster Chhota Rajan who ordered his killing over some professional rivalry and personal grudge. Vora was arrested on 25 November 2011 under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), Arms Act, and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
Jigna Vora spent seven years behind bars at Byculla jail where she shared a cell with BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur who was accused of involvement in the Malegaon blasts case. During this time, she experienced a spiritual awakening which was influenced by her talks with Thakur and her devotion to spiritual guru Satish Kaku.
Jigna Vora also wrote a memoir titled Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison which chronicles her ordeal and exposes the harsh realities of prison life. The book was published by Penguin Random House India in 2019.
On 25 May 2018, Vora along with eight others were acquitted by a special MCOCA court of all charges in the J Dey murder case. The court, however, convicted Chhota Rajan and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Jigna Vora’s Book
Jigna Vora is a crime reporter who was accused of being involved in the murder of her colleague Jyotirmoy Dey in 2011. She was arrested and spent seven years in prison before being acquitted of all charges in 2018. She wrote a book about her experience titled Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison, which was published in 2019.
The book is a memoir of her time behind bars, where she met various inmates, faced harassment and discrimination, and fought for her innocence. The book also reveals the details of the murder case, the role of the gangster Chhota Rajan, and the media trial that followed.
The book is a gripping account of one woman’s struggle for justice and survival in a hostile system. The book has been adapted into a Netflix series called Scoop, directed by Hansal Mehta and starring Karishma Tanna as Jigna Vora.
Where is Jigna Vora Now? Current Status
After her release from prison, Vora decided to quit journalism and pursue a career in spirituality and healing. She became a consciousness healer and Aatmic Awareness teacher. She also learned tarot card reading and astrology. She runs a YouTube channel called JV’s Tarot where she posts videos on tarot card readings and predictions.
She is also active on social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook where she shares her insights on spirituality, healing, and astrology.
Awards
Jigna Vora received several awards and recognitions for her work as a journalist and as an author. Some of them are:
- The Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award for Investigative Reporting (Print) in 2010.
- The Laadli Media Award for Gender Sensitivity (Print) in 2011.
- The RedInk Award for Crime Reporting (Print) in 2012.
- The Sahitya Akademi Award for English Non-Fiction in 2018 for her book Behind Bars.
Documentary
Vora’s life story inspired a Netflix original series titled Scoop, directed by Hansal Mehta. The series is based on Vora’s memoir Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison. It stars Karishma Tanna as Vora and features Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Harman Baweja, and Prosenjit Chatterjee in supporting roles. The series is slated to release on 4 June 2023.
Net worth
According to some sources, Jigna Vora has a net worth of INR 6-7 crores (approx.) as of 2023. In an interview, she revealed that she was earning over Rs 1 lakh as the deputy chief of the Bureau of Asian Age before her arrest.
Facts About Jigna Vora
- Vora was born in Mumbai, Maharashtra, in 1978.
- She graduated from the University of Mumbai with a degree in journalism and mass communication.
- She started her career as a crime reporter for the Asian Age newspaper in 2000.
- Vora joined the Mumbai Mirror, a tabloid daily, in 2005 and became its deputy bureau chief in 2009.
- She covered several high-profile cases, such as the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, the 2011 Mumbai blasts, and the murder of journalist Jyotirmoy Dey.
- She was arrested on November 25, 2011, for allegedly being involved in the conspiracy to kill Dey, who was shot dead by motorcycle-borne assailants on June 11, 2011.
- Vora was accused of passing on information about Dey’s movements and activities to underworld don Chhota Rajan, who allegedly ordered the hit.
- Vora spent seven years in jail as an undertrial prisoner, facing charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, and violation of the Arms Act and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
- She was granted bail by the Bombay High Court on July 27, 2012, but was barred from leaving Mumbai or contacting any witnesses or co-accused.
- Vora wrote a book titled Behind Bars: Prison Tales of India’s Most Famous, which was published in 2017. The book narrates the stories of various celebrities and politicians who have been incarcerated in Indian jails.
- Jigna was acquitted of all charges by a special MCOCA court on May 2, 2018, along with eight other accused. The court said that there was no evidence to link her to the murder plot or to establish her nexus with Rajan.
- She resumed her work as a journalist after her acquittal and joined The Free Press Journal as a senior editor in June 2018.
- She is active on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, where she posts updates about her work and personal life.
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