Pune: Nandu alias Nandkumar Baburao Naik (72), a habitual offender involved in illegal gambling and betting activities, has been released from Nagpur Central Jail just eight days after being detained under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities (MPDA) Act. The State Home Department revoked the detention order, leading to his early release.
Naik was running illegal gambling operations in Shukrawar Peth, which comes under Khadak Police Station’s jurisdiction. He has 63 criminal cases registered against him, including 12 cases related to gambling and betting since 2021. Pune Police had repeatedly conducted raids on his gambling dens, but his criminal activities continued.
Due to his persistent offenses, Senior Police Inspector Shashikant Chavan of Khadak Police Station proposed preventive detention under the MPDA Act. Following a thorough legal review, Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar approved the detention order, and on March 17, Naik was transferred to Nagpur Central Jail.
Past Involvement with Organized Crime
Naik was also linked to the Bandu Andekar gang, which was prosecuted under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA). Authorities found that Naik was financially supporting the gang, leading to MCOCA charges against him. However, he was later granted bail in that case.
Legal Provisions and MPDA Detention Appeal Process
Any individual detained under the MPDA Act can appeal to the State Government or the Supreme Court.
The authorities reviewed whether the detention was legally valid.
Based on their findings, the State Government or Court can either uphold or revoke the detention order.
Naik’s early release raises questions about the enforcement of preventive detention laws and their effectiveness in curbing organized crime and repeat offenders.