The Supreme Court today extended the interim medical bail of former Maharashtra minister, an Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik by six months in a money laundering case.
The interim bail was extended after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigating money laundering charges against the former minister raised no objection considering his poor health condition. A top court bench of Justice Bela M Trivedi and Justice Pankaj Mithal extended the medical bail granted to Nawab Malik.
The former Maharashtra minister was granted bail on August 11, 2023 and the same was extended to October 12 for a further period of three months which was scheduled to expire today.
Appearing for Nawab Malik, Advocate Gaurav Agarwal sought a further extension of six months noting that his medical condition remained unchanged. Meanwhile, Additional solicitor general SV Raju did not oppose the request stating that the bail can be extended for further six months on medical grounds. The bench mentioned that the respondent Enforcement Directorate has no objection to the bail and hence the application is allowed and the interim bail is extended for six months.
Nawab Malik was arrested in February 2022 in connection with a money laundering case and had approached the Supreme Court challenging a July 13, 2023, order of the Bombay high court refusing him bail.
The former Maharashtra minister has been charged for offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act as the ED claimed that in 2005, he conspired with the sister of gangster Dawood Ibrahim to usurp a property in Kurla using a fabricated power of attorney.
On the grounds of investigation by the federal agency, proceeds of crime were generated through the rent and other income from the land, amounting to Rs 15.99 crore. As per the Enforcement Directorate chargesheet, this money was used for terror funding in active collaboration with terror organisations.