HC denies interim reduction to Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik in cash laundering case

By PTI

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday denied any interim reduction to Maharashtra cabinet minister and NCP chief Nawab Malik in a cash laundering case, and refused to move an order for his launch from judicial custody.

Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on February 23 this 12 months beneath the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) over a property deal allegedly linked to the aides of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

He is at the moment in judicial custody.

The minority affairs minister had challenged his arrest and as an interim prayer, sought that he be launched from custody instantly.

However, a bench of Justices PB Varale and SM Modak on Tuesday denied any such interim reduction to Malik.

The bench stated the minister’s petition had raised some debatable points and the courtroom wanted to listen to at size the arguments from each side earlier than passing any ultimate orders.

“As certain debatable issues are raised, they require to be heard at length. We are not inclined to allow prayers in the interim application,” the HC stated.

Following his arrest, Malik had filed a habeas corpus plea via senior advocate Amit Desai, claiming that his arrest by the ED and the ensuing remands have been unlawful.

He had sought that his arrest within the case be quashed and put aside and within the interim, he be launched from custody instantly.

The ED has accused Malik of being a part of an alleged legal conspiracy to usurp a property in Kurla space of Mumbai that at the moment has a market worth of Rs 300 crore and belongs rightfully to at least one Munira Plumber.

Malik has contended that he had purchased the property in a bonafide transaction three a long time in the past, and that Plumber has now modified her thoughts in regards to the transaction.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singha and Hiten Venegaonkar, each ED’s counsels, had argued that Malik was arrested following due course of beneath the regulation.

They stated the central company had satisfactory proof and eyewitness accounts to show that Malik had conspired to buy the property illegally.

The ED had additionally contended {that a} habeas corpus plea within the current case was not maintainable and Malik ought to search bail as an alternative.