Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik, currently in jail following arrest in a money laundering case, on Monday approached a special court here seeking bail for one day to cast vote in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections to six seats from the state.
Last week, Maharashtra's former home minister Anil Deshmukh, who is also in jail on money laundering charges, had filed a similar application
On Monday, a special court in Mumbai, designated to hear cases related to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file its affidavit to both the applications (Malik and Deshmukh) and posted them for further hearing on June 8.
The Rajya Sabha polls are scheduled on June 10.
Malik was arrested by the ED on February 23 this year in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.
The NCP leader in his application sought to be released on bail for a day on June 10.
Malik in his plea claimed that he is an elected MLA and hence, is duty bound to represent the residents of his constituency in electing a representative to the Rajya Sabha, and is also desirous to cast his vote in the aforesaid biennial elections.
The 288-member Maharashtra Assembly forms the electoral college for the Rajya Sabha polls
While the two NCP MLAS - Deshmukh and Malik- are currently in jail, one seat is lying vacant.
Apart from the four main parties Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress and BJP, the Assembly has 25 MLAs from smaller parties and Independents.
The effective election quota per candidate is 42.
The BJP, which has 106 members in the House, has nominated Union minister Piyush Goyal, Anil Bonde and Dhananjay Mahadik.
The NCP has re-nominated former Union minister Praful Patel, while the Congress has fielded Imran Pratapgarhi. Sanjay Raut and Sanjay Pawar are nominees of the Shiv Sena.
The electoral contest for the sixth Rajya Sabha seat lies between BJP's Dhananjay Mahadik and Shiv Sena's Sanjay Pawar.
After NCP leader Anil Deshmukh on Friday approached a special court seeking a day’s release from custody to cast his vote in the upcoming Rajya Sabha polls, Nawab Malik on Monday filed a plea seeking the same.
Malik, a sitting minister, was arrested on Feb 23 this year in a money laundering case. He sought a day’s release from custody on bond and sureties to enable him to cast his vote.
His plea stated that various undertrial MLAs have been permitted to vote for elections of President of India and Council of States by the courts from time to time.
Malik at present is undergoing treatment at a private hospital. He suggested that he be taken in an ambulance for a few hours so that he can cast his vote.
Similar to Deshmukh, he offered an alternative that he should be escorted to Vidhan Bhavan to cast his vote and said he is prepared to bear the escort charges.
He said in his application that he is duty-bound to represent the residents of his constituency in electing a representative to the Rajya Sabha and is also desirous to cast his vote in the elections.
Malik is a standing MLA from the Anushakti Nagar constituency.
His plea added that he is a five-time MLA, demonstrating his popularity among the people. He said further that he is dutybound to cast his vote in these elections and to ensure that the residents of his constituency have a voice in electing a representative to the council of states.
