The Supreme Court on Friday refused to intervene in a plea filed by Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and senior NCP leader Nawab Malik for his immediate release in a money laundering case.
“This is a very early stage. Interference by us would not be appropriate. You can apply for bail before the appropriate court,” a Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud told Mr. Malik’s lawyers.
The Minister had claimed that his arrest was illegal. The Bombay High Court had refused the plea.
Terror funding charge
He was arrested on February 23 during an investigation into an FIR registered against terrorist Dawood Ibrahim. The allegation against the Minorities Development Minister involves terror funding linked to a land deal concerning Ibrahim’s sister, Haseena Parkar.
The High Court had refused to entertain his plea for release on the ground of illegal arrest, saying the Enforcement Directorate had followed due process and he was in judicial custody, his whereabouts known.
Mr. Malik claimed that the High Court’s refusal was in violation of the settled position laid down by the Supreme Court in Arnab Goswami case that courts should be protectors of personal liberty.
