[BREAKING] Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik remanded to 8-day ED custody in Dawood Ibrahim money laundering case

A Mumbai court on Wednesday remanded Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody for eight days in a money laundering case involving underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his associates. .ED is investigating into a charge that Malik had allegedly purchased a property at a rate lower than market value from Dawood. This charge was based on the claims of former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis..Malik was allegedly picked up from his residence at 7 am today for interrogation after he was made to sign the summons issued to him by ED. After interrogation for over 8 hours, Malik was arrested and taken for medical examination. From there, he was produced before Special Judge RN Rokade who remanded him to 8-day custody. .Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh appearing for ED, sought 14-day custody on the following grounds: - FIR against prime accused Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar registered for alleged terror activities and money laundering pointed out that there was unauthorised acquisition of properties by raising funds; - One such properties belonging to a victim of such usurpation was transferred to a company belonging to Malik in connivance with the relatives and members of Dawood gang;- ED claimed his custody was required to interrogate how a property presently worth over ₹300 crores was transferred to Malik for ₹55 lakhs then; - That for usurping this property members of Dawood gang and Malik connived together and executed several legal documents to put a façade of genuinity over this criminal act;- That Malik's interrogation revealed crucial facts which are in his exclusive domain and the key conspirator and beneficiary of entire charade, may reveal details of this syndicate. “In lieu of getting control illegal occupation of this property, he funded a prominent member of D-Gang, the details of this funding needs to be investigated,“ it was submitted. - That custodial interrogation is necessary to find details of other usurped properties by Malik and underworld gang.- That considering his active involvement in terror funding and non-cooperation in the investigation, his custodial interrogation is required..Senior Advocate Amit Desai appearing for Malik opposed the remand by stating: - There wasn’t any connection shown between Malik and Dawood gang. - A property transaction as far back as 1999, a time when PMLA was not even in force, was being used to create an impression that an elected representative of State was involved in anti-national activities. - Specifically on Malik’s “terror funding“ allegations, Desai said that “there should be some restrain. This is not a hindi movie script. What's happening to our polity? His voters are not people who vote for terrorist. He is in public service for a long time. Its unconstitutional, what is happening to Malik““In the arrest warrant ED officer has declared Malik guilty, courts are not needed…” he added.Desai added that as a sitting minister, Malik would have responded to the summons. Malik himself was a victim if a person having no title to a property sold him the same, and there was no reason to arrest Malik on the charge that someone misused power of attorney by Malik.. [Read order].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.