Money Laundering Case: Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik's Judicial Custody Extended Till May 20

The central agency has accused Nawab Malik of being part of an alleged criminal conspiracy to usurp a property in Mumbai's Kurla area

Nawab Malik had submitted before the Bombay High Court that he had bought the property in a bonafide transaction three decades ago. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: A special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court on Friday extended the judicial custody of Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik till May 20, after it was extended till May 6.

The court had previously allowed him to be provided with a bed, mattress, and chair during his judicial custody.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested Minorities Development Minister Nawab Malik on February 23 over a property deal allegedly linked to the aides of gangster Dawood Ibrahim. 

This comes after Nawab Malik was taken from jail to hospital on Monday as his health condition deteriorated.

His lawyer said that Malik was ill for the past few days and after his condition deteriorated, he was taken from Arthur Road Jail to JJ Hospital via stretcher. 

The central agency has accused the NCP leader of being part of an alleged criminal conspiracy to usurp a property in Mumbai's Kurla area which currently has a market value of Rs 300 crore and belongs rightfully to one Munira Plumber. 

“It is pertinent to take into account that the applicant did not see any medical ground in such interim relief. Later, he also approached the Supreme Court for interim relief and the same has been rejected at the outset,” the central agency said.

Malik had submitted before the High Court that he had bought the property in a bonafide transaction three decades ago, and Plumber has now changed her mind about the transaction.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had refused to grant bail to Nawab Malik in the case, noting that the probe is at a nascent stage.

A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant said that it will not interfere with the Bombay High Court order of March 15, news agency PTI reported.

Malik had challenged the March 15 order of the Bombay High Court which had denied any interim relief to him, refusing to pass an order for his release from judicial custody.