Money Laundering Case: SC Grants Bail to Ex-Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail on medical grounds to former Maharashtra minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik in a money laundering case.

A bench of Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma considered the submissions of Malik’s counsel, who stated that Malik was suffering from various ailments.

The apex court specified that the medical bail for Nawab Malik will be valid until the disposal of his regular bail plea before the Bombay High Court. Appearing for ED, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, did not oppose the grant of bail and suggested that the interim medical bail could be made permanent.

In February 2022, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) had arrested Malik in a case allegedly linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his associates. Malik had sought relief from the high court, claiming he was suffering from chronic kidney disease among various other ailments. He also sought bail on merit.

The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) case against Malik stems from a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Ibrahim, a globally designated terrorist and a principal accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, along with his associates, under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.