Maharashtra
Bombay High Court: ‘Can Nawab Malik be considered as sick person under PMLA to be released on bail?’
Mumbai: Can the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik be considered as a sick person as defined under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and hence entitled to be released on bail? Asked the Bombay High Court on tuesday.
Justice MS Karnik posed the question to Malik’s lawyers while hearing the bail plea filed by the NCP leader on medical grounds.
Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on February 23, 2022 in an alleged money laundering case involving fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim for usurping a land at a price much below the market rate.
“If not satisfied on medical grounds then wait,” says court
Justice Karnik said: “If I am not satisfied on medical grounds then you (Malik) will have to wait for your turn (for the bail plea to be heard on merits). There are many other urgent matters on board. Tomorrow, I don’t want anyone to say anything.”
The judge asked Malik’s counsel Amit Desai and Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh, appearing for the ED, to first argue on who can be termed as a “sick person” as per the provisions of the PMLA.
The law
Section 45 of the PMLA lays down ‘twin conditions’ to be eligible to be released on bail – reasonable grounds to believe the accused is not prima facie guilty of the offence and the accused shall not commit any offence while on bail. The court has to ascertain whether these conditions are met while deciding on a bail plea. However, these twin conditions would not apply if the accused is below 16 years or is a woman or is sick or infirm. Then s/he is entitled to be released on bail.
“I have some questions on this as many matters are now coming up where the person (accused) says grant me bail as I am sick. So I want to know who is a sick person. I want you to argue on this ‘sick person’, who will be a sick person,” said Justice Karnik. He further added: “If I am satisfied that the applicant in the present case (Malik) is a sick person then the twin conditions won’t apply. But if I am of the opinion that he is not a sick person or is being treated well while in judicial custody then his bail plea would be heard later on merits.”
Bail plea for hearing on February 21
ASG Singh said he would point out to the court that Malik was not a “sick person” and hence the twin conditions would be applicable while deciding his bail plea.
However, Desai cited the order passed by Justice Karnik while granting bail to NCP leader and former home minister Anil Deshmukh wherein the bail order was passed on “medical grounds and merits”.
The HC has kept the bail plea for hearing on February 21.
The HC had granted bail to Deshmukh on December 12, 2022 in the corruption case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Malik approached the HC last November after the special PMLA court rejected his bail plea. The special court, in May 2022, rejected his bail plea observing that prima facie there was evidence against him. The court, however, permitted Malik to get admitted in a private hospital for treatment. At present, he is in judicial custody and currently undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Mumbai.
Maharashtra
Sadanand Data’s path to becoming DGP is paved, Data will succeed Rashmi Shukla in Maharashtra, will take charge from January 1

NIA Chief Sadanand Date: The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) of the Central Government has taken a significant administrative decision, approving the immediate repatriation of National Investigation Agency (NIA) Director General and senior IPS officer Sadanand Vasant Date to his parent cadre in Maharashtra. This order, issued on December 22nd, is considered highly significant from both an administrative and political perspective.
Sadanand Date is a 1990 batch IPS officer and is known as a strict, honest, and experienced officer at both the central and state levels. During his tenure as NIA chief, the agency’s role in several sensitive and national security-related cases was further strengthened. Under his leadership, the NIA’s efficiency and credibility have increased.
This decision comes at a time when elections for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are scheduled for January. The BMC is one of the largest municipal corporations in the country, and maintaining law and order during its elections is a major challenge for the state police. Therefore, experienced leadership at both the central and state levels is considered crucial.
The term of the current Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra, Rashmi Shukla, ends on December 31st. In this context, Sadanand Date’s name is being considered as a frontrunner for the next DGP of the state. According to administrative sources, Date’s appointment could ensure a fair and robust security arrangement during the elections.
Sadanand Date is known as the courageous officer who directly confronted terrorist Ajmal Kasab at the Cama and Albless Hospital during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He was seriously injured during the incident, but his courage and dedication to duty earned him national recognition.
If Sadanand Date is appointed as the new DGP of Maharashtra, it will be considered a major and positive step for the state’s law and order and security apparatus. Administrative circles believe that his appointment will boost the morale of the police force and help in conducting the upcoming elections peacefully.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: Rickshaw driver beaten up in Vikhroli on suspicion of child theft, burqa-clad driver did this to collect fare, police claim

Mumbai: Vikhroli Park Site, after the rumor of a child theft, chaos broke out and an auto rickshaw driver was attacked by a mob when he went to the street of Vikhroli Madina Masjid dressed in a burqa to collect his fare. During this, people suspected that the child had come to steal, after which the mob beat him up, but the police reached the spot and then took him into their custody. During interrogation, it was found that the child had not come wearing a burqa to steal but to collect the fare. He was dressed in a burqa so that no one would recognize him and he could easily collect his fare and go back, but unfortunately, the people caught him and the police took him out of the mob’s possession and safely took him to the police station. After that, the police confirmed that the child had not come to steal. Further investigation is underway in this matter. The police said that along with the investigation, it is also being found out whether he really came to collect the fare or not. He is a thief. Initial investigation has revealed that the child is not a thief. The police have confirmed that the rickshaw driver is not a thief.
Maharashtra
Municipal Corporation in Mumbai is committed to conducting administration and election process in a fearless, free and transparent environment: Bhushan Gagrani

Mumbai: Municipal Corporation Administration and Election System Mumbai Municipal Corporation is committed to conducting the election process for the general elections 2025-26 in a completely fearless, free, transparent and disciplined environment. In this regard, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Administration has made all and extensive preparations and all necessary measures are being implemented effectively. The role of political parties is very important in the election process. In order to promote democratic values and make the election process fair, transparent and credible, all political parties, their office bearers and workers should strictly follow the code of conduct framed by the State Election Commission and cooperate with the Municipal Corporation Administration. A positive and exemplary example should be set in the electoral process, this appeal was made by Municipal Commissioner and District Election Officer Bhushan Gagrani. A meeting was held with representatives of political parties at the Municipal Corporation headquarters today in connection with the Mumbai Municipal Corporation general elections 2025-26. On this occasion, Gagrani presented detailed information about various administrative, technical and legal aspects of the elections.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. Ashwini Joshi, Special Duty Officer (Election) Vijay Balmwar, Joint Commissioner (Tax Assessment and Collection) Vishwas Shankarwar, Assistant Commissioner (Taxation and Collection) Gajanan Belle, UP Election Officer Vijay Kumar Suryavanshi and other office bearers and representatives of various political parties were present in the meeting. Political parties were provided detailed information about the offices of 23 Election Decision Officers and their scope of work for the smooth conduct of the elections. Along with this, guidance was also given on the process of filing nomination papers, scrutiny of applications, registration of objections and how to contact these offices for day-to-day work in the election process. Municipal Commissioner Shri said that all necessary arrangements have been completed at the level of the Election Decision Officer so that the candidates do not face any technical problems.
Additional Municipal Commissioner (City) Dr. Ashwani Joshi said that all guidelines have been given so that the candidates do not make any mistakes while filing nomination papers (candidate applications) for the elections. The concerned persons should submit all the information in the prescribed format. Candidates should take special care that no application is rejected due to technical difficulties. It is mandatory for the candidates to fill all the information correctly and clearly in the affidavit submitted with their application. He said that if any column is left blank in the affidavit or if incorrect information is found, the nomination of the candidate, along with all other matters, can be cancelled.
Joint Commissioner (Tax Assessment and Collection) Vishwas Shankarwar said that the main objective of the administration is to increase the voting percentage to strengthen democracy. For this, political parties should create awareness among the voters. Public awareness is being created among the voters under the ‘SVEEP’ program by the Municipal Corporation. Also, it is mandatory to follow the guidelines of the esteemed State Election Commission regarding election expenses. Candidates should keep a record of every expense incurred during the election campaign and submit the account of election expenses within the stipulated time. Various doubts raised by the representatives of political parties on various issues were cleared including caste verification certificate, toilet usage certificate, Appendix 1 and Appendix 2, appointment of representatives of election candidates.
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