Mumbai: A petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court demanding cancellation of the interim bail granted to former state minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik. The petition alleged that Malik was misusing the relief given to him and threatening witnesses, thereby violating the bail conditions.
Malik, leader of the NCP (Ajit Pawar) group, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on February 22, 2022 in a case related to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his associates. The Supreme Court had granted him interim medical bail in August 2023 for kidney treatment. He is contesting from Mankhurd Shivajinagar assembly constituency. Voting for the election is on 20th November.
Samson Pathare, a resident of the city, alleged that Malik was violating the conditions imposed by the court. He was granted bail on the grounds of kidney failure and was told that he needed hospital and treatment. However, Malik is not undergoing any surgery nor is he admitted to the hospital. His health is neither serious nor medically unfit, due to which he was granted medical bail. He has misused the relief by misleading the court.
In the name of election campaign, Malik is taking revenge from the witnesses and threatening to change his statement in the special court. He remains outside the jurisdiction of the special court for election campaigning and gives interviews to the media which is a violation of the conditions. They are abusing the concession given to themselves by deliberately delaying the case pending before the Special Court and absconding from justice. Malik also did not provide medical details to ED from time to time.
The interim bail granted by the Supreme Court in August 2023 has been extended from time to time. The Supreme Court made it clear that the medical bail will remain in force until the High Court decides on his regular bail.