Times of India
MUMBAI, Jan 23: Mumbai police sub-inspector and encounter specialist Daya Nayak, who has been absconding following recovery of unaccounted assets worth Rs 40 lakh during raids at his premises, was on Monday suspended even as the high court here declined to entertain his anticipatory bail plea directing him to move the lower court.
In a related development, 40-year-old businessman, P Manivellan, was arrested on the charge of allegedly aiding Nayak alias Dayanand Badda Naik in laundering his alleged ill-gotten wealth. A special court remanded Manivellan to police custody till January 30.
Anti Corruption Bureau, which had conducted the raids on January 20, filed a case against Nayak under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. He had since been absconding.
The ACB also registered a case against his wife Komal after they found papers allegedly revealing possession of unaccounted assets worth Rs 40 lakhs.
Nayak's counsel urged the high court for anticipatory bail for the husband and the wife saying they had come to the court as it had earlier heard related matters.
However, Justice V M Kanade asked Nayak and Komal to move the sessions court first and then come to the high court if it was necessary.
Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order) Arup Patnaik told reporters that Nayak was suspended after ACB sent a communication recommending action against him.
Nayak, the high-profile encounter specialist who has shot dead more than 50 underworld gangsters, is still absconding, ACB alleged but senior police officers said he had availed of sanctioned leave.
Nayak was posted at Kandivali police station in north Mumbai for almost a year after he was shunted out of the Crime Branch following allegations of corruption and underworld links against him.
After the high court asked Nayak and his wife to move the sessions court for bail, his lawyers said they were getting ready to file a fresh petition in the lower court and were most likely to do so tomorrow.
In another development, Deputy Chief minister R R Patil, who also holds Home portfolio, told reporters that reports about government shielding Nayak were "misleading" and assured law would take its own course and the state would not protect anyone whose hand was suspected in crime.