Money laundering case: Bombay HC seeks material supporting claims that Nawab Malik violated bail conditions

The HC, while granting interim bail on medical grounds, had directed Malik to remain within Greater Mumbai, which is the jurisdiction of a special PMLA court, till the trial concluded. It had said Malik could seek prior permission from the trial court to remain outside its area for a period of four days and place itinerary for the same.

It had also asked Malik to cooperate with the trial court to expedite the trial and if any delay was caused by him, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would be entitled to apply to cancel his bail.

Pathare, through advocate Chandrika Mishra, alleged that Malik had violated the said conditions. He also claimed that interim bail was granted to Malik based on his medical condition, and after the August 5 order, he had been freely roaming around, which showed that he was fit and healthy and was also campaigning for elections.

The bench found that it would be appropriate that the main bail plea is also listed for further consideration at the earliest.

It noted that documents filed along with the plea presently fell short of supporting the specific allegations made by Pathare and he would be at liberty to place on record the supporting material within two weeks.

The ED had arrested the former minister in February 2022 in a money laundering case registered over the Goawala compound property in Kurla, allegedly linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim. Malik had been in judicial custody since March 2022. He remained in hospital from May, 2022, till his release as per Supreme Court’s August, 2023 temporary bail order on medical grounds. In July, this year, SC confirmed the interim bail order.