'Encounter specialist' Daya Nayak retires after 30 years in Maharashtra police force

Mumbai's famed 'encounter specialist', Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Daya Nayak, retired from the force on Thursday, marking the end of an illustrious 30-year career in law enforcement. Known for his fearless work against the underworld, Nayak is credited with eliminating over 80 gangsters during his service—earning him both notoriety and acclaim.

Nayak, who joined the police force in 1995 as a sub-inspector, was officially promoted to Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) just two days prior to his retirement. Until recently, he held the position of senior inspector with the Bandra unit of the Mumbai Crime Branch, playing a crucial role in high-stakes operations across the city.

One of the highlights of his career came in 2021, when he was a key member of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) that cracked the high-profile Antilia bomb scare case. The case involved an explosives-laden SUV parked outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence and the subsequent murder of the car’s owner, Mansukh Hiren—a chilling incident that gripped national headlines.

Though transferred to Gondia district in 2021, Nayak continued his service with the ATS after the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) stayed the transfer order. A similar incident occurred in 2019, when a proposed transfer outside Mumbai was held back by the state government.

Known for his gritty fieldwork and sharp investigative acumen, Daya Nayak leaves behind a legacy marked by both controversy and courageous policing—a name etched in Mumbai's policing history.

With PTI Inputs