Mumbai: The special PMLA court here Wednesday sent Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till March 3. Malik was arrested today in connection with the money laundering case against the underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his associates. The court allowed Malik to carry his medicines and get home food during his ED custody.
Earlier, officials of the ED reached Malik's residence at around 4:30 am on Wednesday. They were accompanied by CRPF personnel. Malik was brought to the ED's office after conducting a preliminary inquiry till 7.30 am. He was interrogated at the ED's office for more than seven hours after which he was arrested.
Clad in a white kurta-pyjama, Malik emerged out of the ED office all pumped up, smiling to the reporters who were waiting for him for hours. He was seen raising his hand in the air and even waving to his workers with a big smile on his face not synonymous with someone who was arrested but someone who had won a battle. "Have been arrested, but won't be scared. We will fight and win," said Malik as he was brought out by ED officials.
Malik was taken to a government hospital for medical check up and was produced by ED officials before the special PMLA court. "ED officials came to my house early morning, took me to the ED office, detained me and later, recorded my statement. They gave me summon copy at the ED office and asked me to sign it," Nawab Malik told the PMLA Court.
Also read: Explained: The case in which Nawab Malik has been arrested
Malik had recently made a series of exposés against the former Narcotics Control Bureau Mumbai head Sameer Wankhede. He is the second NCP minister to be arrested by the ED after the former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh who was arrested in November, and remains in custody till now. Reacting to his arrest, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil demanded Malik's resignation. "Nawab Malik has been arrested, he should resign now. We demand his resignation. If he doesn't, we will protest. How are they running the govt? There's a long list of allegations against Maharashtra Ministers, will get tired reading it," Patil said.
Earlier, NCP chief and state minister Jayant Patil said that Malik was taken to the ED Office without prior information, adding that the BJP was taking revenge from him for 'exposing' its leaders. "Nawab Malik has been taken to ED office for questioning, without any prior information. He had exposed BJP leaders in the past few days, so revenge is being taken now," said Patil while talking to the media.
Also read: Nawab Malik says his fight is against 'oppression' and 'injustice'
Last week, the National Investigation Agency had raided certain properties linked with the absconder mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his relatives in Mumbai. Five days ago, the ED arrested the don's younger brother, Iqbal Ibrahim Kaskar in connection with a money-laundering case lodged against him.
NCP Spokesperson Vidya Chavan and Shiv Sena leader Kishore Tiwari strongly condemned the manner in which the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party was "abusing" the official machinery and central agencies to "silence political opponents who dare to speak against them". However, BJP's legislators Atul Bhatkalkar and Ram Kadam pointed out that the party had already submitted full details of an alleged business deal between Malik and the mafia don.
Bhatkalkar demanded that if the business deals by Malik are proved in the investigations or if the NCP leader is found to be acting as a 'front' for the mafia, then he must be arrested. Anticipating 'a call' from the agency, Malik had earlier stated that he would welcome the ED whenever they come.
