Times of India
MUMBAI, May 15: The suspension of high-profile encounter specialist Daya Nayak may be revoked by the state government since the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) has failed to substantiate disproportionate assets charge against him.
Despite an extensive inquiry over a year, the ACB has not been able to file a chargesheet against the officer. In fact, the report submitted by investigating officer D N Bhog of the ACB on April 23, 2007, makes it clear that the bureau has not been able to substantiate the charges.
On January 20, 2006, ACB filed an FIR against Nayak and his wife Komal accusing them of owning properties worth Rs 6.61 lakh and Rs 35 lakh respectively. Even though normally in cases of disproportionate assets the accused person is not arrested, Nayak was arrested in January 2006 and he was released on bail in April the same year after being made to sleep on a barren floor of the lock-up at Naigaum.
One of the allegations against Nayak was that he owned a Tata Sumo vehicle on a 'benami' basis. It was alleged that even though the vehicle was shown to be owned by a plumbing contractor Rajendra Padate, who was known to Nayak, the vehicle actually belonged to the cop. It was found that Nayak had nothing to do with the vehicle.
As for his wife Komal, she had taken a loan for Rs 30 lakh for running a business from Kuber Housing Investment and Finance Ltd, of which P Manivelan, a co-accused in the case, was a director.
Since she decided not to go ahead with the business plan, she returned the loan to the company. Komal was working for P Manivelan's company, which was started by controversial businessman from Coimbatore P Rajaratnam, who, among other things, acquired Garware Paints and renamed it as Deve Paints.
Komal was given a flat in Bandra on a tenancy basis and later ownership rights were conferred on her. But since another party had already decided to buy the flat from Garware Paints before it was taken over by Rajratnam, a dispute arose.
Finally, a high court approved compromise was effected by the first purchasers and Komal.
As for the controversial school started by Nayak in his native Karnataka in memory of his mother, the ACB has found that Nayak's contribution was only Rs 10,001 and the bulk of the donation of Rs 44.73 lakh was made by Manivelan towards furniture to be used in the school.
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