Statements of witnesses indicate Nawab Malik's involvement in money laundering: special PMLA court

ED told the court that the accused was not cooperating in the investigation

Statements of witnesses prima facie show the involvement of Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik in money laundering, the special PMLA court has said.

Special judge R. N. Rokade made this observation in his order, which became available on Tuesday, remanding Malik to 14-day judicial custody in a money-laundering probe linked to the activities of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aides being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Senior NCP leader Malik was arrested by the ED on February 23. He was sent to judicial custody on Monday as no further remand was sought by the probe agency.

Though the ED didn't press for Malik's further remand it told the court that the accused was not cooperating in the investigation.

“During the progress in the investigation, statements of the witnesses were brought to the notice of the court. On the basis of material placed before the court, the accused was remanded to ED custody upto March 7.

“It is to be noted here that prima facie, there are statements of witnesses which show the involvement of the accused in money laundering,” the court added.

The court noted that the proceeds of crime are yet to be identified by the competent authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 and the investigation is at the initial stage.

“It is pertinent to note that the accused has challenged earlier remand orders as well as the arrest of the accused before the Bombay High court. Having regard to the grounds mentioned in the remand report, the accused is required to be remanded to judicial custody for 14 days,” the court said.