Daya Nayak, Padte sent to JC till March 20

Mumbai, Mar 06: The Special ACB court today (Mar 06, 2006) remanded suspended encounter specialist Daya Nayak and his associate Rajendra Padte, arrested in connection with a case of disproportionate assets against the police officer, to judicial custody till March 20.

Both Nayak and Padte were produced before Special ACB Judge P N Deshmukh this afternoon.

The duo was remanded to judicial custody after Public Prosecutor R V Kini told the court that the Anti-Corruption Bureau officers did not require their further custody.

Meanwhile, arguing on behalf of Nayak and Padte, defence counsel Shirish Gupte prayed that his clients be kept in the Bhoiwada police lock-up under judicial custody where they had spent 15 days.

He apprehended threat to their lives in keeping them at the Arthur Road jail, fearing retaliation from other criminals.

He also brought to the notice of the court that Bombay High Court, while dismissisng their anticipatory bail applications, had directed that they be kept in seperate cell and provided adequate security.

The Court then passed an order to keep them in Boiwada police lock up till March 10 when their bail application is to come up for hearing).

The Superintendent of Aurthur Road jail and Senior Police Inspector of Bhoiwada police station were also directed to submit a report by March 10 on the safety aspects.

The Court observed that it would take a final decision on March 10 on where to keep them in judicial custody.

The ACB had registered a case on January 20 against Nayak, his wife Komal, and associates P Manivelan and Rajendra Padte under the Prevention of Corruption Act for acquiring assets worth over Rs 41 lakh ''by corrupt means.'' Bombay High Court had, however, granted anticipatory bail to Nayak's wife Komal on February 8, while dismissing the pleas of Nayak and Padte.

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court order on February 17 and had directed Nayak and Padte to surrender before the trial court following which the duo had surrendereed before the ACB court on February 20.

UNI