A day after he was cleared in a disproportionate assets case, suspended 'encounter specialist' Daya Nayak expressed hope that he would be reinstated in the police department.
"I am ready to bounce back now. I hope the government reinstates me in the police department so that I can start my new life," the suspended police sub-inspector said on Saturday.
The Anti Corruption Bureau of the city police, which probed the charges against Nayak, had filed a report before the sessions court in Mumbai on Friday stating that there was no evidence in the case registered against him four years ago.
However, the 41-year-old inspector was a little disappointed about the entire episode. "I always believed in myself. The false charges did not disturb me much but I was feeling a bit sad as I had to waste four years due to baseless allegations," he said.
The ACB had in January 2006 registered a case against Nayak for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to known sources of his income. According to the agency, Nayak had acquired 'benami' properties to the tune of Rs 60 lakh in his and his wife's name. Nayak, who is credited with over 80 encounters, was arrested in February 2006 and released on bail after two months.
He was later suspended from service. In November 2007, the ACB sought sanction from the director general of police to prosecute Nayak in the case. However, the DGP refused to grant sanction after observing that there is no evidence against the encounter specialist. Following this, the ACB filed a report on Friday, clearing him of such charges.
"This proves that I have not done anything wrong," said Nayak.
"My wife also had to face problems because of these charges. There were also allegations that I had property abroad. But the fact is that I do not even have a passport. The question of buying a property abroad does not arise," said the sub-inspector, who was serving at Charkop police station.
Nayak had also faced charges under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act after a former journalist filed a petition alleging that underworld gangster Chhota Shakeel had given the police money to transfer police officers.
However, the Supreme Court had granted him reprieve in the case after observing that his links with the underworld could not be established.
