Just 48 hours before his retirement, the Mumbai Police Crime Branch's Senior Inspector Daya Nayak received a much-deserved promotion. Known in the corridors of crime and the Maharashtra Police for his fearless exploits, Daya Nayak has now been elevated to ACP (Assistant Commissioner of Police). According to a report in the Indian Express, Nayak, who was promoted on Tuesday, is set to retire from the police service on Thursday.
The Mumbai Police operates under the jurisdiction of the Maharashtra government's Home Department, which authorized Nayak's promotion. In addition to Nayak, three other senior inspectors of the Mumbai Police—Jeevan Kharat, Deepak Dalvi, and Pandurang Pawar—were also promoted.
Daya Nayak joined the Mumbai Police in 1995. Currently posted in the Crime Branch's Bandra Unit, Nayak's first assignment was at the Juhu Police Station.
The '90s Decade: A City’s Turmoil and Daya's Debut
Remember the tumultuous 1990s. The 1993 Mumbai blasts not only shook the city but reverberated across the nation. The underworld’s stranglehold became a daunting challenge for the police, with gang wars all too common, sowing fear with extortion, threats, and murders throughout the city.
It was during this era that Daya Nayak entered the Mumbai Police. He quickly found himself confronting criminals. In 1996, he took down two lieutenants of the Chhota Rajan gang, Vinod Matkar and Rafiq, in South Mumbai. His audacious acts captured media headlines, causing ripples not just among the police circles but within the underworld as well.
In 1997, Daya was involved in another high-profile encounter, taking down Chhota Rajan's close aide, Satish Raut, in Andheri. His precise intelligence and swift action in this operation cemented his reputation within the police department.
By 1998, Daya Nayak had become a recognized name in the Mumbai Police, having targeted numerous criminals, including some from the notorious Dawood Ibrahim gang. His intelligence network, informants, and meticulous planning aided in netting multiple fugitives.
As the 1990s closed, Daya Nayak’s name had become synonymous with fear across the underworld.
Daya Nayak’s career even inspired a Bollywood film, "Ab Tak Chhappan," where his character was portrayed by Nana Patekar. However, as per reports, Nayak was involved in 84 encounters. Beyond the '90s, into the 2000s, Nayak played pivotal roles in several operations of the Mumbai Police.
2006: Daya Under Scrutiny
In 2006, Daya Nayak faced severe allegations from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for possessing disproportionate wealth. A report by NDTV mentioned that a Marathi newspaper reported Day Nayak had constructed a hi-tech school in his native village Yenholi in his mother Radha Nayak's name, funded by allegedly unauthorized means. Celebrity figures like Amitabh Bachchan and Suniel Shetty graced its inauguration.
Questions arose regarding how a sub-inspector could amass such wealth. Allegations of misuse of power followed, leading to his incarceration, though ACB couldn't substantiate its claims, and Nayak was granted bail.
Later investigations yielded no solid evidence against Nayak, culminating in his exoneration.
Solving High-Profile Cases
Daya Nayak also served in the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and was part of the team investigating the 2021 security threats to the Ambani residence. According to an Indian Express report, Nayak has been involved in solving sensational and high-profile cases, including the shooting at actor Salman Khan's residence by Lawrence Bishnoi gang members, the murder of NCP leader Baba Siddiqui, and an intruder’s threat against actor Saif Ali Khan.
