New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday extended for three months the interim bail on medical grounds to former Maharashtra minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik in connection with a money laundering case.
A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Dipankar Datta issued the order after noting that the NCP leader is suffering from chronic kidney ailments and his left kidney has completely failed.
Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate, did not object to the request made on Malik’s behalf and said that his plea for extension of interim bail “may be considered” by the apex court.
“The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is still suffering from chronic kidney ailments and his medical condition has not improved. Learned ASG S.V. Raju does not dispute the same position. In view of the above, the interim bail granted to the petitioner is extended for a further period of three months as prayed for,” the top court ordered.
Earlier on August 11, the Supreme Court had granted the interim relief to Malik solely on medical grounds for a term of two months on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the trial court.
The ED had arrested Malik in February 2022 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in a money-laundering case arising out of an alleged under-valued property deal with underworld links.
The ED's case against Malik is based on an FIR filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Dawood Ibrahim, a designated global terrorist and a key accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, and his associates under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
With inputs from agencies