Mumbai: A special court on Wednesday rejected the bail application of NCP leader Nawab Malik’s in a money laundering case concerning a Kurla plot, in which he was arrested in February this year.
Making oral observations while dismissing the plea that the court said that Malik had been in continued possession of the tainted property.
Special Judge RN Rokade of a court designated to handle cases against MP's and MLA's also observed that the statement of Munira Plumber (the co-owner of the land) recorded by the ED under a provision of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cannot be brushed aside.
Malik's advocate had argued that he was a bonafide purchaser of value and had denied allegations of any offence. Judge Rokade said the court cannot accept this argument and that there is no material to show he enquired with the owner about the property. The court also said there is evidence of conspiracy of meeting between Malik and Haseena Parkar.
Malik had involved in money laundering
As per the ED's case, Malik had involved in money laundering and funded the terror network of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim by usurping the Kurla land of one Munira Plumber.
It alleges he had engaged in a transaction with a close associate Salim Patel of Dawood’s sister Haseena Parkar. Parkar used to allegedly handle illegal activities for the don in India.
Arguing for Malik's bail, his advocate had emphasised before the court that Plumber’s statement came up suddenly after 23 years. It was further contended that he was “an innocent purchaser for value”.
The agency had relied on the statement of Sardar Khan
Malik's advocate had also pointed out that the agency had relied on the statement of Sardar Khan - a convict in the 1993 Bombay blasts. The advocate had asked if they could not find any other witness and had to rely on the statement of a bomb blast convict against someone who had been in public life for the past 40 years.
The ED had opposed bail to Malik and argued that Malik had attended meeting with Parkar pertaining to who should control the usurped land. It told the court the plot was controlled by Malik through a company called Solidus Investment.
