Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik taken into ED custody. (ANI) Mumbai news highlights: Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik has been sent to Enforcement Directorate custody till March 3. He was brought to a Session court by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after the agency arrested him in connection with money laundering case against underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aides. Malik was picked up from his house by the probe agency at 7 am on Wednesday for interrogation.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said the leader was being harrassed for speaking up against central agencies. “Nawab Malik has been very outspoken and we were sure that some issue will be raked up by them to trouble him. It is their habit that if there is a Muslim activist who is their opponent to link his name to Dawood. When I was the CM of Maharashtra they had tried to link my name with Dawood as well.” he said.
Meanwhile, Mumbai on Wednesday reported 168 fresh Covid-19 cases, 255 recoveries, and zero deaths. The active cases in the financial capital is at 1,228.
Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has undertaken a new and unique initiative to collect and re-use various objects which are rejected, like e-waste, clothes, books, shoes, crockery and toys. Local citizens can keep these items in the bins, which can then be picked up by those in need. (Express Photo: Amit Chakravarty)
Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik was "actively" involved in terror funding, the ED told a special PMLA court here on Wednesday while seeking his custody following arrest in a money laundering probe linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) made this claim while seeking the 62-year-old NCP leader's custody for interrogation in the money laundering probe linked to the activities of Ibrahim and his aides. Malik was arrested earlier in the day after being questioned for about five hours at the ED office in south Mumbai's Ballard Estate area since around 8 am and later produced before special judge RN Rokade, who remanded him in the ED custody till March 3.
The ED case is based on an FIR filed recently by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Ibrahim, a fugitive gangster, and others. The NIA had filed its criminal complaint under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
The cabinet minister's statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and he was arrested under the same provisions as he was "evasive" in his replies, ED officials said. (PTI)
Maharashtra BJP on Wendesday announced to hold a state-wide protest tomorrow demanding the resignation of state minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik, news agency ANI reported. Malik has been remanded to ED custody till March 3, in a money laundering case.
After a court here remanded Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik in the ED custody following his arrest in a money laundering probe on Wednesday, he was brought to the central agency's office in south Mumbai, where he will have to spend the night, an official said.
A special court remanded the state Minority Affairs Minister to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) till March 3 in a money laundering probe linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.
The 62-year-old NCP leader was produced before special Judge R N Rokade, who remanded him in the ED custody for further probe into the matter.
"After the court hearing, Malik was brought to the ED office in Ballard Estate around 9 pm. The minister will have to spent this night at the ED office," the official said. While getting down from the vehicle at night, Malik once again waved at media persons, just like he had done in the afternoon after stepping out of the ED office after his questioning. (PTI)
The BJP on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik following his arrest by the ED, but Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut countered it saying that the NCP leader should not be asked to step down as he was held in a "cunning manner".
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Malik in a money laundering case linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim, his aides and the Mumbai underworld. The 62-year-old NCP leader was taken to the ED's office in south Mumbai for questioning in the morning and was later arrested. Malik is the first serving cabinet minister to be arrested on money laundering charges. Following his arrest, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil demanded that the minister should be removed from the state cabinet.
Speaking to reporters, he said, "There is a law, which states that a minister should be removed from his post if he is facing criminal charges. Malik should be removed or asked to step down from his post." Apart from being the chief spokesperson of NCP, Malik is the Minority Affairs and Skill Development Minister in the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. (PTI)
Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Nawab Malik has been sent to Enforcement Directorate's (ED) custody till March 3. Malik's lawyers have moved three pleas seeking access to his medicines, home food and lawyer's presence during interrogation. (ENS)
Maharashtra government will not take the resignation of Nawab Malik, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal said after meeting a meeting with all the parties in MVA government.
Bhujbal also said that Centre is putting pressure on the state ministers in order to collapse the government.
Mumbai on Wednesday reported 168 fresh Covid-19 cases, 255 recoveries, and zero deaths. The active cases in the financial capital is at 1,228.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee speaks to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief Sharad Pawar, expresses support after the arrest of minister Nawab Malik.
Some NCP ministers in Maharashtra met at the residence of party president Sharad Pawar here on Wednesday evening to discuss the situation arising out of the arrest of their cabinet and party colleague Nawab Malik by the ED in connection with a money laundering case.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif and Rajesh Tope were present at Sharad Pawar's residence 'Silver Oak' in South Mumbai for the meeting, party sources said.
“The meeting was called to discuss the current situation that has arisen post Malik's arrest and the party's future course of action,” the sources said.
They said Malik's portfolios could be shared with his party colleagues in the cabinet in case he resigns. Malik, a senior NCP leader, holds the skill development portfolio besides the minority affairs department in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. (PTI)
The NCP on Wednesday lashed out at the BJP over Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik's questioning and subsequent arrest by the ED in a money laundering case, saying this was another instance of "misuse of power" and a pressure tactic to silence his voice since he had exposed wrongdoings of some people.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar said his party had anticipated such an action against its leader Malik as he "speaks openly". The Shiv Sena and Congress, which share power with the NCP as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra, also threw their weight behind 62-year-old Malik, saying they need to unitedly fight against the tactics to silence political opponents.
The BJP, however, said the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) action should not be called "vendetta politics" and if leaders of the ruling parties feel there is misuse of power, they can move court to seek justice. The opposition party also said that after his arrest, Malik has no right to remain as a cabinet minister and demanded his resignation.
The ED on Wednesday arrested Malik, state Minority Affairs Minister and NCP's chief spokesperson, in a money-laundering probe linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides, officials said. (PTI)
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh to represent Enforcement Directorate (ED) to seek Nawab Malik's custody. Singh has reached court, Malik is to be produced shortly in court. (ENS)
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) workers gather outside the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Mumbai and raised slogans after the arrest of party leader and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik in connection with the money laundering case against underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.
Malik was picked up from his house by the probe agency at 7 am on Wednesday for interrogation. (Read the full report)
Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Wednesday said that the city recorded 135 new Covid-19 cases, out of which 20 are symptomatic and the infected have been admitted.
"Mumbaikars have been following all rules and restrictions and this is helping in reining in the spread of infection," she added.
The Mumbai Customs Department destroyed 656 kg of seized narcotic substances worth about Rs 500 crore and over one crore cigarettes of foreign origin.
The seized drugs included 293 kg of heroin and 50 kg of mephedrone. The cigarettes weighed 19 metric tonne and were worth around Rs 15 crore.
NCP workers protested near the party's headquarters, located close to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) office in south Mumbai, as the agency questioned Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik in connection with a money laundering case.
The workers shouted slogans slamming the BJP-led central government and ED. They said they are with Malik, NCP's national spokesperson and the party's Mumbai unit chief.
The workers were seen heading towards the ED's office, but were stopped by police personnel near the party's office. The NCP activists then did a sit-in protest.
Maharashtra has never bowed down before the Centre and it never will, NCP MP Supriya Sule said after the ED questioned party leader Nawab Malik in a money laundering case.
The NCP was not surprised by the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) action, the Lok Sabha member from Maharashtra said, adding it was unfortunate that the Centre was using its machinery against the BJP's political rivals in a "suppressive" manner.
In the wake of Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik's questioning by the ED, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut alleged that central probe agencies, like a "mafia", were targeting BJP's political opponents who expose falsehood.
Raut said the ED officials took away Malik from his home for questioning. "This is a challenge to the Maharashtra government. The central investigation agencies, like a mafia, are targeting BJP's political opponents who expose falsehood. But, truth will prevail and the fight will continue," the Shiv Sena's spokesperson said.
"This (targeting of individuals by digging old cases) will continue till 2024 and after that they will have to face the consequences," Raut said in a veiled attack on the BJP and central agencies. (PTI)