ED discovers Rs 200cr land linked to Nawab Malik's son
What's the story
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has discovered a Rs 200 crore plot in Mumbai tied to the family of Nawab Malik, the National Congress Party leader and a minister in the Maharashtra government, India TV reported. The property is located in the Bandra-Kurla neighborhood of Mumbai and is held by a real estate firm in which Malik's son, Faraz, is one of the partners.
Context
Why does this story matter?
ED had arrested Malik on February 23 after questioning him for several hours. The probe agency has claimed to have established a money trail that links the NCP leader to the underworld. The Shiv Sena and Congress called his arrest a political vendetta by BJP, saying the party is using central agencies against its opponents. The BJP, however, rejected the charges.
Petition
Malik moves Bombay High Court against arrest
Malik filed a plea in the Bombay High Court on Monday (February 28) against his arrest. The petition says that his arrest is unconstitutional and sought immediate release. At present, Malik is in the custody of the ED till March 3. He was detained last week in connection with the money laundering tied to Dawood Ibrahim.
Case
NIA probes the high-profile case
The case is based on the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) recent FIR filed against Dawood Ibrahim and others. The agency has registered a case under the terms of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Meanwhile, the ED is looking into Malik's connection to Dawood, alleging that they plotted a criminal conspiracy to seize Munira Plumber's ancestral land valued over Rs 300 crore.
Quote
BJP had justified action by ED
"When all documents are out and the ED acts on them, the Maharashtra government and its minister says the action is an act of revenge," BJP MLA Ram Kadam had said. "Dawood brutally killed thousands in bomb blasts...Can a nationalist buy his property?" he asked.
Profile
Malik is a five-time MLA
Nawab Malik, a five-time MLA, is the national spokesman of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which is part of Maharashtra's Shiv Sena-led government. He is the minister in charge of minority issues. One of the BJP's most outspoken opponents, Malik recently became the face of the criticism in the Narcotics Control Bureau's (NCB's) detention of megastar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan.
Details
Outcry by NCP workers after arrest
Workers from the NCP have been protesting against the Enforcement Directorate after Malik's arrest in the case. While he was being interrogated by the ED, the party workers organized protests near the agency's office in southern Mumbai and chanted anti-BJP and anti-investigation slogans. The party workers also staged a sit-in protest after police stopped them from marching toward the ED office.