11 Jan 2024 5:45 AM GMT
The Supreme Court on Thursday (January 11) extended the interim bail granted last year to former Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik by another six months. Malik was arrested on February 23, 2022 by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in a money laundering case, but was released on interim bail in August last year.
A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal was hearing a special leave petition filed by Malik against a July 2023 order of the Bombay High Court declining the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislator's request for interim bail on medical grounds.
The senior NCP leader was initially granted interim bail on medical grounds for two months in August last year. This was later extended by three months in October after the court was informed that the former minister's health had not improved since the last order and he was undergoing treatment for kidney-related and other ailments at a private hospital in Mumbai. The Enforcement Directorate did not object to the court granting Malik relief on either occasion.
During the hearing today, the division bench considered an application for a further extension of the interim relief. Appearing for the central agency, Additional Solicitor-General SV Raju told the court, "This request may be considered and on medical grounds, an extension may be given."
Acceding to Malik's request for interim bail to be extended by six months, the bench pronounced, "...Learned additional solicitor-general has no objection. The interim prayer is granted and application is allowed. Interim bail is extended for a further period of six months as prayed for. List the main matter after six months."
Background
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Nawab Malik on February 23 of last year in connection with a money laundering case linked to fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aides. According to the investigating agency, Malik connived with D-gang member and Ibrahim's sister, Haseena Parker, and two others, and usurped a property in Mumbai's Kurla between 1999 and 2006. The agency has alleged that since Parkar handled the illegal business of the notorious gangster and global terrorist, the money that Malik allegedly paid her, was ultimately used for terror funding, slapping charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act on the former legislator.
After a special court refused to grant him bail in November of last year, Malik approached the Bombay High Court. However, owing to his deteriorating health, Malik has been in custody at a private hospital to ensure continuous medical supervision. During the hearing, the Bombay High Court wondered how bail could be granted despite the rigours of Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Finally, on July 13, a single-judge bench of Justice Anuja Prabhudessai refused to grant Malik temporary bail, while directing the matter to be listed after two weeks to be heard on merits.
Aggrieved by this order of the high court, the Nationalist Congress Party leader has moved the Supreme Court.
Case Details
Mohammed Nawab Malik v. the State of Maharashtra | Criminal Appeal No. 2415 of 2023