Daya Nayak

Daya Nayak (Kannada: ದಯಾ ನಾಯಕ್) is a sub-inspector with the Mumbai police force. He is currently awaiting reinstation following a suspension order based on allegations of disproportionate income by an underworld criminal. He rose to fame for having eliminated more than eighty gangsters of the Mumbai underworld as a member of the Mumbai Encounter Squad, which was created by the Maharashtra Government for tackling the increasing problems of underworld extortion, gangwars, and a terrible law and order situation.

In February 2006, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) of the Mumbai Police declared Nayak absconding; when he voluntarily surrendered at the court, they arrested him on a non-bailable warrant. Despite multiple raids and an intensive investigation, the ACB could not find any evidence against Nayak as possessing any assets disproportionate to his income. In 2008, a court threw out the ACB's demands for a re-arrest and condemned the ACB for targeting and vilifying a police officer without proof.

Early life

He was born in Yennehole village near Karkala in Udupi district of Karnataka.

Career as a police officer

He joined the Mumbai police force in 1995 as a sub-inspector and was later appointed to the Crime Intelligence Unit. Though, popular for being responsible for reducing the crime rate in Mumbai, there have been serious allegations of adopting improper procedures, violations of rules and violations of human rights against him.

Allegations of mafia links and corruption

In 2003, ex-journalist Ketan Tirodkar went to court and accused Nayak of accepting money from mafia bosses. Mr Tirodkar is also facing trial for his alleged involvement in underworld activities and he is still in jail. Daya Nayak is being investigated by the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court for links with the underworld. As a result, anti-corruption officials raided his house on January 21, 2006 following reports that he had amassed more wealth than his known sources of income could have allowed. On February 18, 2006, a sessions court issued a non-bailable warrant against him in the disproportionate assets case after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the sessions court, the Bombay High Court and after the Supreme Court of India declined to interfere in the case and directed him to surrender. Two days later, he surrendered as directed and was sent to judicial custody. During the investigation ACB arrested Daya Nayak's friend Mr. P. Manivelan, at the insistence of Mrs. Pradnya Saravade, for allegedly laundering Daya Nayak's money. He was put in jail for 62 days. Manivelan took the matter to State Human Rights Commission. The Commission Chairman Justice Kshitij Vyas criticized the arrest and passed strictures against Pradnya Saravade for her high handedness. He also directed the government to recover Rs. 25000/-(Rs. Twenty five thousand only) from her. ACB is preparing for an appeal in Mumbai High Court.

Charitable causes

Nayak's persona has slowly turned into one of a reckless daredevil. His popularity ascended to the extent that he came in close contact with Bollywood bigwigs. He was responsible for helping fund a government school named after his mother "Radha Nayak Govt High School" in his village Yennehole in Udupi district of Karnataka, which was inaugurated by Amitabh Bachchan amidst the presence of many other Bollywood personalities.

Movies

The Hindi movies "Ab Tak Chhappan" by Shimit Amin and N Chandra's "Kagaar" and a Kannada film named "Encounter Daya Nayak" were made based on his life. The 2007 film Risk by Vishram Sawant, also has overtones from Daya Nayak's life. A Telugu film, titled "Golimaar" released on 27-05-2010, by Director Puri Jagannadh, is also inspired from his life.

See also

• D-Company

References

• "I've done 83 encounters" - rediff.com article dated October 27, 2003
• "Crack shot becomes target of raid" Telegraph article dated November 21, 2003
• "Reprieve for Daya Nayak" - rediff.com article dated June 7, 2004
• "Bombay's crack 'encounter' police" - BBC article dated June 9, 2004.
• "Daya Nayak suspended by Mumbai Police" - Times of India article dated January 23, 2006
• "Warrant against Daya Nayak" - The Hindu article dated February 19, 2006
• "The truth about Daya Nayak"
• "Daya Nayak to Help July 11 probe" - Hindustan Times article dated July 24, 2006
• "Daya Nayak assets worth only 87 lakhs" - Mumbai Mirror article dated December 4, 2007