Money Laundering Case: Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik's ED Custody Extended Till March 7

The Maharashtra Minority Affair Minister was produced before a special court judge RN Rokade after being sent to an initial remand till Thursday. 

NCP leader and Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik | File Image

New Delhi: A Mumbai court extended the ED custody of Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik till March 7 in connection with a money laundering case linked to the activities of gangster Dawood Ibrahim, PTI reported.

The minister was produced before special court judge RN Rokade after his initial remand ended on Thursday.

Special PMLA court extends the Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody of Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik till 7th March. He was connected by ED in connection with Dawood Ibrahim money laundering case.

(File photo) pic.twitter.com/4P2buZth02

— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2022

Malik was arrested on February 23 after being questioned for about five hours at the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) office in south Mumbai.

"Considering the fact that the accused was in hospital from February 25 to 28 (during his previous ED custody) and also new facts have emerged during investigation, the accused is being sent to further custody," the court said.

On Tuesday, Malik had approached the Bombay High Court to quash the money laundering case registered against him. In his plea, the NCP leader had argued that his arrest by the ED was illegal and that he should be released immediately. The High Court had granted him a hearing on Wednesday. 

Malik’s son, Faraz Malik, has also been summoned by the ED regarding the same case. 

Malik was under ED lens over alleged links to some property deals with those convicted for the 1993 Mumbai blasts, including mastermind Dawood Ibrahim. The ED had earlier told the court that Nawab Malik was "actively" involved in terror funding.

Earlier in February, raids and searches were carried out at the Mumbai residence of Ibrahim’s sister Haseena Parker and several other associates of the gangster in Mumbai.