The Supreme Court has granted bail to former Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik on medical grounds in connection with a money laundering case.
The interim bail will remain in effect until the Bombay High Court reviews Malik’s request for regular bail.
Justice Bela M Trivedi, leading the bench, issued the order after Malik’s legal team presented evidence of his deteriorating health, including a collapsed lung that necessitates medical treatment.
Malik’s attorney, Arunabh Chowdhury, supported by advocate Jayant Mohan, highlighted the urgent need for medical care.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) S V Raju, representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED), stated that the agency had no objections to making Malik’s interim medical bail permanent.
This endorsement by the ED reflects a consensus that Malik’s health situation warrants continued medical attention outside of prison.
Nawab Malik was first granted temporary bail in August of the previous year, based solely on his medical condition, for a period of two months.
The Supreme Court later extended this bail for an additional three months, citing ongoing health issues such as chronic kidney ailments.
In January of this year, the court further extended his temporary bail by six months.
Malik, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), was arrested by the ED in February 2022 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The charges stem from an alleged under-valued property deal with links to organized crime.
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