The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday granted medical bail to Nawab Malik, a former Maharashtra minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, who has been implicated in a money laundering case. The bail is contingent upon the medical conditions of Malik and will remain effective until the Bombay High Court resolves his regular bail plea.
Justices Bela M. Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma acknowledged the health issues presented by Malik’s counsel, highlighting his suffering from chronic kidney disease among other ailments. This acknowledgment led to the decision to grant medical bail, which offers Malik temporary relief from detention while his health concerns are addressed.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), did not object to the bail. He suggested that the interim medical bail granted by the Supreme Court could potentially become permanent, pending further judicial review.
Nawab Malik’s legal troubles stem from his arrest by the ED in February 2022. The case against him is linked to the alleged activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his associates. The allegations include financial transactions purportedly aimed at facilitating the operations of Ibrahim, who is a designated global terrorist and was a major figure in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts.
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The FIR leading to Malik’s charges was lodged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, reflecting the severity and national security implications of the case.
