The Bombay High Court on Thursday refused to grant bail to NCP leader Nawab Malik on medical grounds in a money laundering case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing the money laundering case. Nawab Malik was arrested by the ED in February 2022 in a case of alleged nexus between fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his associates. The NCP leader is in judicial custody and undergoing treatment at a private hospital. He had sought bail on medical grounds, saying he was suffering from kidney disease and also had several other ailments. A single bench of Justice Anuja Prabhudesai dismissed Malik’s plea seeking bail on medical grounds. The court said it would hear his bail appeal after two weeks on merits.
Malik’s advocate Amit Desai said Malik’s condition has been deteriorating for the past eight months and he is in stage 2 to stage 3 of kidney disease. He requested the court for bail, saying that Malik’s health should be kept in mind and if he remains in these conditions, it can prove to be fatal. Solicitor General Anil Singh, appearing for the ED, opposed the bail, saying Malik was in a hospital of his choice and receiving medical treatment.
The ED’s case against Malik is based on an FIR registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Dawood Ibrahim, the prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, and his associates.