Allegations in opposition to Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik look to be well-founded: PMLA courtroom

By PTI

MUMBAI: Prima facie, there are affordable grounds to imagine that allegations in opposition to Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik are “well-founded”, noticed a particular courtroom right here whereas remanding him within the custody of the ED in reference to a cash laundering case.

Special decide RN Rokade, designated to listen to issues associated to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), additionally mentioned that enough time is required to be granted for the investigation of the offence and Malik’s custodial interrogation was vital.

The courtroom on Wednesday remanded Malik, a senior NCP chief, within the custody of the Enforcement Directorate until March 3. Its detailed order was made obtainable on Friday. Malik was arrested by the ED on Wednesday in a cash laundering probe linked to the actions of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.

The courtroom, in its order, mentioned it seems from the report that accused has not cooperated with the investigation on the essential facet. “Prima facie, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the accusations are well-founded under PMLA,”the decide noticed.

The courtroom held that the probe was at a nascent stage and Malik’s custodial interrogation is important to unearth all of the ramifications concerned within the crime. “The proceeds of crime have traversed since last 20 years and more. Therefore, sufficient time is required to be granted for the investigation of the offence,” the decide mentioned.

The ED case is predicated on an FIR filed just lately by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in opposition to Ibrahim, a fugitive gangster, and others. The NIA had filed its prison grievance below sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).