Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik Arrested In Cash Laundering Case

Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik was on Wednesday arrested after questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in reference to a cash laundering case linked to the actions of the Mumbai underworld, fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides. In visuals from outdoors the ED workplace, Mr Malik might be seen defiantly waving his fist within the air.

In response to sources, Mr Malik was grilled over alleged transactions with gangster Dawood’s associates and land offers with them. He was evasive and did not cooperate with the investigation, the ED mentioned.

Lately, the ED had carried out a number of raids and in addition took custody of Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Iqbal Kaskar in the identical case. In response to sources, some proof associated to property bought by Nawab Malik has surfaced in the course of the ongoing investigation. 

Amid an escalating disagreement between Maharashtra’s Maha Vikas Agadhi authorities and the Centre, the 62-year-old Minister was taken to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) workplace this morning for questioning.

The central probe company’s officers reached the Nationalist Congress Occasion (NCP) chief’s residence at 6 am the place he was questioned for an hour. He was then dropped at the ED workplace and questioned once more for over 5 hours.

Whereas Mr Malik was being questioned, NCP staff protested close to the get together’s headquarters, positioned near the ED workplace in south Mumbai, and shouted slogans slamming the BJP-led central authorities and the probe company.

The employees had been seen heading in the direction of the ED’s workplace however had been stopped by police personnel close to the get together’s workplace. They then did a sit-in protest.

“The protest is towards the unjust questioning of Nawab Malik as he was exposing the BJP+NCB+CBI+ED nexus each day. We won’t be cowed down. NCP will preserve exposing BJP and all central businesses,” get together spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare mentioned.

Mr Malik had lately made headlines for attacking the Narcotics Management Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede accusing him of a number of service-related wrongdoings after the anti-drugs officer led the raid on a cruise ship on Mumbai’s shore in October final 12 months and arrested 20 individuals together with celebrity Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan.

Mr Malik’s son-in-law Sameer Khan was additionally arrested in a medication case by the NCB’s Mumbai unit final 12 months.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and NCP chief Sharad Pawar have accused the central businesses of being politically motivated and claimed that anybody who speaks towards the Centre and its probe businesses is focused. 

The BJP has rubbished allegations of political vendetta and accused Mr Malik of shopping for land from gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s aide. BJP MLA from Mumbai’s Ghatkopar West Ram Kadam mentioned in a video assertion that this isn’t a couple of get together or a person. 

Maharashtra authorities’s minister purchased land from Dawood’s dreaded gang member, he alleged and added that for the reason that land was about to get seized by the federal government, the minister purchased it at nominal charges from a bomb blast accused. 

“When all paperwork are out and the ED acts on them, the Maharashtra authorities and its minister says that the motion is an act of revenge. Dawood brutally killed 1000’s in bomb blasts…the gang member from who the land was purchased is accused within the blasts…can a nationalist purchase his property?” he mentioned.