Senior police inspector Daya Nayak, once known as an 'encounter specialist', was on July 29 promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police. He is known for gunning down nearly 86 gangsters linked to Dawood Ibrahim and Chhota Rajan in the 1990s. Daya Nayak's entire career has been in the public eye, marked by several dramatic ups and downs. He joined the Mumbai Police in 1995 and is set to retire on July 31, 2025.
The 1990s: When Bullets Spoke Louder Than Fear
During the 1990s, Mumbai was under the terror of underworld dons. At that time, encounter specialists gunned down hundreds of gangsters and freed the city from the grip of underworld violence. Daya Nayak was one of the most well-known encounter specialists of that era. Although the Human Rights Commission and a section of society raised objections over these encounters, encounter specialists, including Daya Nayak, were considered real-life heroes in the public eyes.
Small-Town Beginnings: From Udupi to Mumbai Streets
Born in Udupi, Karnataka, Daya Nayak hails from a Konkani-speaking family. After studying in a Kannada-medium school till Class 7, he came to Mumbai in 1979 in search of a job. There, he completed his Class 12 education from a municipal school in Goregaon while working in a hotel. He later graduated from CES College in Andheri.
A Turning Point: Plumber’s Apprentice to Police Officer
While working as a plumber’s apprentice, he came into contact with some police officers from the Anti-Narcotics Department, which inspired him to join the police force. Finally, in 1995, after completing his training at the Police Academy, he received his first posting as a Police Sub-Inspector at Juhu Police Station.
The First Encounter That Changed It All
At the time, the underworld had a strong presence in Mumbai. In December 1996, he killed two of Chhota Rajan's men in an encounter in Juhu. That incident marked the beginning of his reputation as an encounter specialist.
Controversy Strikes: Accusations of Disproportionate Assets
With fame, however, came controversy. In 2004, an investigation was launched against him following allegations of disproportionate assets. The MCOCA court ordered the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate Nayak's undeclared wealth. The ACB conducted raids at his residence. He was also arrested in this case. Subsequently, he was given a clean chit by the ACB, allowing him to continue his service.
A Rollercoaster Career of Suspensions and Reinstatements
After this setback, he was reinstated and was appointed in 2012 as Additional Commissioner of Police (West) Control Room. However, he was suspended again in 2014, before being reinstated in 2016.
Currently, Daya Nayak is the Police Inspector in charge of Crime Branch Unit 9 and has now been promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police. He has been involved in several high-profile investigations, including the firing incident outside actor Salman Khan’s residence, the murder case of political leader Baba Siddique, the bomb scare at Anil Ambani's residence, and the theft at actor Saif Ali Khan's home. A Bollywood film has also been made based on his life.
