NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday in a money laundering case related to the activities of Mumbai underworld and fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his associates.
ED sources told CNN-News18 that Malik was not cooperating with the probe and there were some financial transactions which they believe have hawala links.
The ED is probing the alleged land deal between Malik and Dawood’s brother Iqbal Kaskar. It had last week raided the residence of Dawood Ibrahim’s late sister Haseena Parkar in Mumbai in connection with the case.
According to the ED’s remand application, Nawab Malik paid around Rs 55 lakh to Haseena Parkar, the late sister of global fugitive Dawood Ibrahim, for taking illegal possession of the land. After the death of Fazliabbas Goawalla, the property was owned by Munira the plumber and her mother.
It said that considering Hasina in possession of illegal land, Malik helped D Company financially. In lieu of the said acquisition of assets through Hasina, Malik funded Dawood Ibrahim’s terrorist network.
The law enforcement agency claimed that the land belonged to Munira Plumber and it came to know about the property being sold only after media reports. There were reportedly several encroachments on the property as both the women were not able to take care of the property.
The ED said that both Haseena Parkar and Malik took advantage of the two women, who were too afraid to visit the property. Malik first did (the deal) through Kurla General Store and later through a company named Solidus Investments, took possession of the said land.
It is said that the criminal conspiracy was hatched by Haseena Parkar, Nawab Malik, Salem Patel and Sardar Khan to take the said property illegally.
The current market value of this property is more than Rs 300 crore and its value in the agreement is only Rs 30 lakh. The ED said the market value of the sale deed was Rs 3.30 crore and only Rs 15 lakh was paid by Malik.
Munira Plumber, the legal owner of the property, and her mother did not receive a single penny.
Malik was arrested on Wednesday after questioning for nearly five hours at the ED’s office in south Mumbai’s Ballard Estate area from around 8 am and was later produced before special judge RN Rokade, who granted him ED custody till March 3. sent in.
The ED case is based on the recent FIR registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against Ibrahim and others. The NIA had registered its criminal complaint under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
ED officials said 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 “childish” in his replies. Malik has alleged links with those convicted for some property deals. He said the Mumbai bombings were on the radar of the Federal Investigation Agency and hence the need for his interrogation.
The ED produced him in PMLA court and sought 14 days remand. The central agency told the court that the interrogation of Malik may reveal important facts which are within its exclusive jurisdiction. It claimed that Malik, being “the main conspirator and beneficiary of the entire conspiracy”, could disclose the details of this syndicate.
The ED claimed that “members of this property of D-Gang and Nawab Malik put together several legal documents to mask reality on this criminal act and to execute several legal documents.” During custodial interrogation, (previously arrested accused) Iqbal Kaskar disclosed some facts about his sister Haseena Parker and her involvement in usurping high-value properties of innocent civilians in Mumbai using D-Gang clout, Said it.
It is also clear that Malik is guilty of the offense of money laundering as defined under the provisions of PMLA. His custodial interrogation was required for further investigation, given his active involvement in the “financing of terrorism” and his non-cooperation in the investigation. In the matter, the central agency told the court.
While coming out of the ED office, Malik shook hands at the media persons and said, “We will win and not bow down before ED (we will win and will not bow before ED).” As news of ED’s action against Malik spread, his supporters gathered near the ED office and raised slogans against the ED and the Modi government.
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