Bombay HC Denies Interim Relief To Nawab Malik, Judicial Custody To Continue Till March 21

Malik had sought to quash the ECIR against him and also declaration that his arrest is "illegal arrest."

NCP leader and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik being taken to the Sessions Court from ED Office, on March 7, 2022 in Mumbai, India. (Getty Images)

New Delhi: The Bombay High Court has not granted any relief to Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik today. The NCP leader had approached the high court seeking interim relief in the alleged money laundering case against him connected to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

Malik had sought a declaration calling his arrest 'ilegal' and also demanded quashing of ECIR against him but the Bombay High Court refused to direct the release of the minister in an alleged money laundering case over his "involvement in terror funding" based on a 1999- 2005 land deal concerning Dawood Ibrahim's sister.

Malik, 62, also prayed to set aside the special PMLA court's order remanding him to ED custody for 8 days. 

The ED arrested the state cabinet minister on February 23 in connection with a money laundering case registered against fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim, wanted for the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts. The arrest was made after the ED raided the premises of persons linked to the terror accused, including his late sister Haseena Parkar. Malik had reportedly transacted with some of Parkars' aides over a Kurla property in the 2000s. 

ED had arrested Malik on allegations that he had allegedly purchased a property from underworld don Dawood Ibrahim for an amount of Rs 20 lakh (through a company controlled by him - Solidus Investments Pvt. Ltd.) which was lower than the market value (Rs3.54 crore as per ready reckoner rate), reported Live Law.

Malik was picked up from his residence at 7 am on February 23 this year for interrogation after he was made to sign the summons issued to him by ED.

After interrogation for over 8 hours, Malik was arrested and produced before Special PMLA Judge who remanded him to 8-day ED custody which was extended for 4 days, and eventually, Malik has been remanded to judicial custody till March 21, 2022.