As Nawab Malik gets bail, both NCP factions stake claim to his loyalty

“It is wrong to say Nawab Bhai has been granted bail because NCP joined hands with BJP. It is the court which granted him bail. We have always been sure that Nawab bhai cannot do any wrong. And it was the case in ED that kept him behind bars for so long. We are confident he will be declared innocent,” said Narendra Rane, Mumbai NCP chief, from the Ajit Pawar group.

When asked if Malik would join Ajit Pawar group, Rane said that Malik has yet not declared his support to Ajit dada, but as all know he has always maintained a good relationship with him. “Once he comes out, he will decide. His brother and daughter come to our party office to complete developmental work in their respective areas,” said Rane.

NCP workers burst crackers and shouted slogans in Malik’s favour outside the party office opposite the Mantralaya after the court order.

“We welcome the Supreme court order. It is crystal clear that He is innocent and was kept in jail solely for political reasons. We believe in judiciary and he will soon be declared innocent, ” said NCP’S Lok sabha MP Supriya Sule.

“I’m glad to hear that our senior NCP Leader Shri Nawab Malik ji has been granted temporary medical bail. I hope this provides him the necessary time to address his health concerns,” tweeted Ajit group leader and Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel.

The NCP stands divided after Ajit Pawar chose to join hands with BJP with eight others, and was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister on July 2. While sources claim that Malik has extended support to Ajit through his lawyer, Rane denied any such move.

Malik, a strong voice against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will have to choose a side after his release. He will either remain with mentor and NCP chief Sharad Pawar or join the government with Dy CM Ajit Pawar in a government allied with BJP.

The Supreme Court on Friday granted a two-month interim bail to Malik on medical grounds. The Bombay High Court had rejected bail, observing that he was provided with adequate medical help at a private hospital of his choice, monitored by specialist medical practitioners, and that his right to health or life was not infringed in any manner.

The ED arrested the former minister on February 23 last year in a money laundering case registered over the Goawala compound property in Kurla, allegedly linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim. He has been in judicial custody since March 2022 and admitted to Criticare Hospital in Kurla since May 2022. The special court had said he would remain in hospital until further orders.