Daily News & Analysis
Mumbai, Jan 23: Is Daya Nayak in the dock due to rivalry among some “encounter-specialists” or is it a case of alleged corruption?
Police Commissioner AN Roy rubbishes the rivalry claim. “It’s not because of the so-called rivalry. We had prepared the case and given it to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), and they have acted after one-and-a-half years.”
But it’s well known that Nayak’s larger-than-life media image didn’t go down well with many of his colleagues.
According to sources, another ‘encounter-specialist’ called up film-maker Ram Gopal Varma when he was making Ab Tak Chhappan—said to be based on the life of Nayak—and asked him how he could glorify Nayak so much. Varma reportedly replied that it wasn’t just Nayak’s story, but reflected the life of all such cops.
Roy also said Nayak had not been declared as an absconder. “The case is with the ACB now. If their report goes against Nayak, we’ll put him under suspension,” said Roy.
Sources close to Nayak said that he never left India for Canada or Switzerland, as reported. “In 2003, he was invited by the Indian High Commissioner to be a guest at the Indian Festival in New York, but he didn’t attend it.”
Nayak is believed to be in Bangalore currently to attend a children’s programme and is expected to return to Mumbai on Wednesday. However, sources added that if Nayak fails to give a proper explanation to the ACB he’ll be arrested for further questioning. “Whatever, Nayak’s supporters might say, the ACB has a strong case against him.”