Mumbai: Special PMLA Court Extends Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik's Judicial Custody Till April 18

The Bombay High Court had denied any interim relief to Nawab Malik and refused to pass an order for his release from judicial custody.

Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik (FIle Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Special PMLA court on Monday extended the judicial custody of Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik till April 18.

The Nationalist Congress Party leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case.

"Nawab Malik was produced in Court today with the end of his judicial custody, now it's been extended till April 18. He has requested his home food and medicines and has also challenged his arrest calling it illegal and unconstitutional," advocate Nilesh Bhosle said.

Previously, the Special PMLA had extended the judicial custody of Nawab Malik till April 4. 

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

Malik, the chief of NCP's Mumbai unit and also the Guardian minister for Parbhani and Gondia districts, is in judicial custody in connection with a money laundering case related to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.

He was arrested on February 23.

The Bombay High Court had denied any interim relief to Malik and refused to pass an order for his release from judicial custody.

Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray Attacks BJP For Demanding Nawab Malik's Resignation

Last week, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray targeted the BJP-led government saying that if the NCP leader was in the wrong, what were the agencies doing for so long.

"If Nawab Malik had a connection with Dawood Ibrahim for years, what were central agencies doing for so many years?" Thackeray asked, as quoted by news agency ANI.

"Where is Dawood? Does anyone know where is he? You fought last elections in the name of Ram Mandir. Now, are you going to ask for votes in the name of Dawood? Did Obama ask for votes in the name of Laden? If you have guts then kill Dawood, will you?" he remarked in the state assembly.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister also slammed the BJP for demanding Malik's resignation. "You ask for the resignation of Nawab Malik. Tell me first, why did you support Mehbooba Mufti who had sympathy for Afzal Guru and Burhan Wani?" he asked.

The remarks came days after the ED attached properties of nearly Rs 6.45 crore during raids at Uddhav Thackeray's brother-in-law Shridhar Patankar's premises.

"The way you have attacked my family and (want to) put me in jail...What is the use of exposing all these things? Court sees proof and decides... Put me in jail, I am not Krishna but can you say that you are not Kans?" the Shiv Sena leader said.