Bombay High Court on Tuesday, 15 March refused relief to Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik, rejecting his interim release application in the money laundering case involving underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, on grounds of 'certain debatable issues'.
In its order, a division bench of Justices PB Varale and SM Modak noted:
"As certain debatable issues are raised, they require to be heard at length. Considering the grounds assigned by us we are not inclined to allow the prayers in the interim application. Applications rejected."Bombay HC, as per LiveLaw
The leader was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 23 February.
Malik's Release Application
After spending over two weeks in jail, Malik had requested the Bombay High Court to release him from custody on 9 March.
Arguing on his behalf, Malik's lawyer Amit Desai told the court, "The police authorities, on fanciful grounds, cannot disgrace any disliked face under the cloud of his or her involvement in an offence of organised crime. This is my submission."
He also said that the ownership of the property being investigated by the ED was bought by Malik more than 20 years ago.
Desai added that Malik was now being made to suffer because the original owner of the property Munira Plumber had changed her mind regarding granting the power of attorney for the property's sale, reported PTI.
Malik had been arrested over a land deal wherein he allegedly bought property from an aide of Dawood Ibrahim at a price lower than the prevailing market rate.
In the special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court where Malik was produced earlier, the ED said that it was investigating a land deal wherein Malik purchased a Rs 3.3 crore property for Rs 50 lakh from Salim Patel, a frontman of Ibrahim’s late sister Haseena Parkar.
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