Nawab Malik, arrested in money laundering case, sent to ED custody till March 7
On Thursday, 3 March, a special Mumbai court extended the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) custody of Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik until 7 March for further investigation into the case.
The accused, a minister in Uddhav Thackeray’s Maharashtra government and a senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) until March 3 in connection with a money laundering case involving underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.
The order was issued by Special Judge RN Rokade in light of the fact that the investigating agency did not have 3 to 4 days during the previous remand period to question Malik because he had to be taken to the hospital.
“Because the accused was in the hospital and the investigation agency was unable to record a statement, the remand is extended,” the Court stated.
The Special Judge also denied Malik’s application to oppose the application for remand under Section 167(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh, appearing on behalf of the ED, claimed that of the 8-day custody period granted to Malik, 3 to 4 days were lost due to Malik’s actions because he had to be taken to hospital.
“The accused claimed to be suffering from a medical condition. He was transported to JJ Hospital for a medical examination. He was asked if he wanted to be admitted…. Three to four days of the eight-day period were spent in medical custody. Clearly, a medical emergency cannot be ignored “He stated.
Singh claimed that more statements had been obtained and that further interrogation of Malik would be necessary.
In this regard, Singh stated that remand was being sought in order to learn more about transactions involving the Goawala building in Mumbai’s Kurla district.
The ASG referred to additional statements recorded of a landowner near the Goawala building claiming that Malik had grabbed his land using underworld clout.
Senior Advocate Amit Desai argued that Malik’s arrest was illegal and in violation of legal procedure. Habeas Corpus has been filed before the High Court which has agreed to examine the case. ED had arrested Malik on allegations that he had allegedly purchased a property at a rate lower than market value from Dawood. Desai said that while the accused needs to be confronted, he need not be arrested and remanded since he is a sitting minister and not a flight risk.
