Statements of witnesses point out Nawab Malik’s involvement in cash laundering: Special Court

By PTI

MUMBAI: Statements of witnesses prima facie present the involvement of Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik in cash laundering, the particular PMLA court docket has stated.

Special choose R N Rokade made this commentary in his order, which turned accessible on Tuesday, remanding Malik to 14-day judicial custody in a money-laundering probe linked to the actions of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aides being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Senior NCP chief Malik (62) was arrested by the ED on February 23. He was despatched to judicial custody on Monday as no additional remand was sought by the probe company.

Though the ED did not press for Malik’s additional remand it advised the court docket that the accused was not cooperating within the investigation.

“During the progress within the investigation, statements of the witnesses have been delivered to the discover of the court docket.

On the premise of fabric positioned earlier than the court docket, the accused was remanded to ED custody as much as March 7.

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

The court docket famous that the proceeds of crime are but to be recognized by the competent authority underneath the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 and the investigation is on the preliminary 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 docket stated.

The ED had stated within the remand plea that “this is a sensitive case involving proceeds of crime apparently generated from the organised crime sector and its subsequent laundering, which is currently under initial stages of the investigation. The case also appears to have international ramifications as well”.

The Central company had additionally stated that its officers have been analyzing transactions to ascertain the cash path and hint the last word beneficiaries of proceeds of crime so generated.

The accused individual (Malik) has not cooperated with the investigation and didn’t reveal the information throughout the recording of his assertion, the ED said.

From the investigation performed thus far and information introduced on document, it’s discovered that the accused individual has performed and continues to play an important position in laundering, it alleged.

The ED case towards Malik is predicated on an FIR filed just lately by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) towards Ibrahim, a fugitive gangster, and others.

The NIA had filed its legal grievance underneath sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

The ED had on Monday urged the Bombay High Court to dismiss the habeas corpus (legislation writ issued to carry a celebration earlier than a court docket or choose) petition filed by Malik difficult his arrest by the anti-money laundering company, saying his arrest was as per legislation.