A special PMLA court in Mumbai on Thursday extended the custody of Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik with the Enforcement Directorate till 7 March. Malik was arrested by the central government agency last week in a money laundering case. Malik has denied allegations of money laundering.
The ED last week had grilled Malik in a money-laundering probe linked to the activities of the Mumbai underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aides before formally arresting him.
The ED had recorded Malik’s statements under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before arresting him under the same provisions alleging that he was evasive in his replies
The PMLA court on Thursday, as reported by the Livelaw website, said that ‘considering that the accused was admitted in hospital from Feb 25 – 28 and the investigating officer was unable to record his statement, further considering the fresh facts brought on record custody extended till March 7.”
Reacting to Malik’s arrest, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut had said that ‘the way in which he was taken from his home by ED is a challenge to Maharashtra government.’
“A minister is taken away by central agencies by coming to our state. After 2024, you’ll be probed too. Keep this in mind,” Raut was quoted as saying.
Malik has been attacking the central government and its agency, Narcotics Control Bureau, after the latter arrested Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan in a drug racket case. Aryan had to several weeks in jail until he was released on bail by the Bombay High Court. The NCB is controlled by the union home ministry headed by Amit Shah.