Who is Daya Nayak? The Officer Leading Investigation into Saif Ali Khan’s Attack
Who is Daya Nayak? The Officer Leading Investigation into Saif Ali Khan’s Attack
Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan was attacked at his Mumbai home early Thursday, suffering multiple stab wounds, which shocked both the film industry and his fans. At 54 years old, he underwent surgery at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai and is reported to be out of danger. His wife, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and their two children are safe.
The Mumbai Police quickly responded to the incident, with officers present at Saif Ali Khan’s apartment complex in Bandra West. Notably, encounter specialist Daya Nayak was among the officers who visited the scene. Daya Nayak is renowned for his role in taking down over 80 gangsters from the Mumbai underworld during the 1990s, making him a prominent figure in the fight against crime in the city.
Daya Nayak’s Journey:
Daya Nayak’s journey to Mumbai began in Udupi, Karnataka, where he was born into a Konkani-speaking family as the youngest son of Badda and Radha Nayak. After finishing Class 7 at a Kannada-medium school in his village, he moved to Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1979 in search of work to support his family.
His first job in the bustling city was at a hotel, where he managed to complete his Class 12 education at a municipal school in Goregaon while living and studying in the hotel’s portico. After finishing school, he graduated from CES College in Andheri.
Nayak’s ambition to become a police officer developed after he met several narcotics officers while working as a plumber’s apprentice. His determination paid off when, in 1995, he became a police sub-inspector at the Juhu police station, marking his entry into the force 15 years after leaving home for Mumbai. This was a time when the underworld in Mumbai was thriving.
In December 1996, Nayak gained notoriety after he shot and killed two gangsters from the Chhota Rajan gang in Juhu, who had allegedly fired upon him. This incident significantly boosted his popularity within police circles.
Controversies
The well-known police officer has faced several controversies throughout his career. He came under investigation for allegedly accumulating wealth that was inconsistent with his declared income.
In 2004, a court under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) directed the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to look into Nayak’s disproportionate wealth. The ACB subsequently filed a case against him and conducted raids at six locations, including two in Bangalore. These operations uncovered that Nayak reportedly owned two fleets of luxury buses—one in Mumbai through a travel agency named Vishal Travels in Andheri, and another in Karkala, Karnataka.
The ACB arrested Nayak, but he was reinstated in 2012 as the additional commissioner of police for the West control room.
