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ED Files Draft Charges Against NCP Leader Nawab Malik In Money Laundering Case; Hearing On July 24

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday submitted draft charges in a  court here against former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik in a money laundering case linked to the activities of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.

Special public prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves filed the draft charges before special judge R N Rokade.
Besides Malik, who is in jail custody (rpt jail custody), draft charges were filed against three other accused in the case and the matter was adjourned for hearing on July 24.

Draft charges a step towards commencing trial
Draft charges are a step towards commencing trial in a criminal case. The court concerned has to hear both sides and decide which of the sections invoked by the investigating agency the accused can be charged with based on prima facie evidence.

The court will then read out to the accused the charges he will face during the trial, and once he pleads not guilty, the trial can commence.
Malik has sought bail from the Bombay High Court and his plea has been reserved for order.

Malik has been denied bail
The 64-year-old Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, who was arrested in February last year, is currently in judicial custody and undergoing treatment at a private hospital here.
The special court had earlier denied bail to Malik, saying he “is in continuous possession of tainted property” through a firm owned by his family.
The ED has alleged Dawood’s sister late Hasina Parkar was one of the prominent members of the gang, and was involved in unauthorised acquisition of key assets for raising terror funds.

The case against the NCP leader

As per the central agency, the probe has revealed that Malik, in connivance with Parkar and alleged Dawood gang members Salim Patel and Sardar Khan, hatched a criminal conspiracy to usurp a prime property — Goawala Compound in suburban Kurla — belonging to one Munira Plumber.
Under a planned conspiracy, the power of attorney (PoA) of the property was executed by misguiding Plumber and a supplementary PoA was forged, the anti-money laundering agency claimed.

The ED’s case against Malik is based on an FIR (first information report) registered by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) against Dawood, a designated global terrorist and key 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts accused, and his aides under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). 

Business

Committed to boosting Mumbai’s infrastructure, ease of living: PM Modi

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Mumbai, Oct 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reaffirmed his government’s commitment to enhancing Mumbai’s infrastructure and the ‘Ease of Living’ as he is set to inaugurate Phase-1 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) and the Mumbai Metro Line-3.

In a post on X, PM Modi said, “On the way to Navi Mumbai to take part in the programme marking the inauguration of Phase-1 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport. With this, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will get its second major international airport, thus boosting commerce and connectivity.”

“The final phase of the Mumbai Metro Line-3 will also be inaugurated. We are committed to enhancing Mumbai’s infrastructure and boosting ‘Ease of Living’ for the people of this dynamic city,” he added.

Phase-1 of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, developed at an estimated cost of Rs 19,650 crore, will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister in line with his vision of transforming India into a global aviation hub.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport is India’s largest Greenfield airport project, developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. As the second international airport for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, it will work in coordination with the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to reduce congestion and position Mumbai among global cities with multi-airport systems.

Spread across 1,160 hectares, NMIA is designed to be one of the most efficient airports in the world, capable of handling up to 90 million passengers per annum and 3.25 million metric tonnes of cargo.

Among its standout features is an Automated People Mover (APM) system that will connect all four passenger terminals to facilitate smooth inter-terminal transfers. A landside APM will also link the city-side infrastructure, ensuring convenience for passengers and staff.

Committed to sustainability, the airport will include storage for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), solar power generation of nearly 47 MW, and electric bus services for city-wide connectivity. NMIA will also become the country’s first airport to be connected by a Water Taxi service.

In addition to the airport, PM Modi will inaugurate Phase 2B of the Mumbai Metro Line-3, which stretches from Acharya Atre Chowk to Cuffe Parade and has been constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 12,200 crore.

With this launch, the Prime Minister will dedicate the entire Mumbai Metro Line-3 (Aqua Line) to the nation. Built at a total cost exceeding Rs 37,270 crore, this milestone marks a major leap forward in the city’s urban transport infrastructure.

Mumbai Metro Line-3, the city’s first fully underground metro line, is set to redefine commuting in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region by offering faster, more efficient, and eco-friendly transport options for millions of daily commuters.

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Akhilesh Yadav to meet SP veteran Azam Khan in Rampur amid rumours of latter’s party switch

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Lucknow, Oct 8: In a significant political development in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Akhilesh Yadav is set to meet old warhorse Azam Khan on Wednesday, a meeting seen by many as an attempt to bring an end to ‘differences and distrust’ with the party stalwart.

The meeting between the duo will be closely watched, not just by SP workers but also by political analysts, as this is expected to have greater ramifications for the party in strengthening its Muslim votebank, as the latter is one of the biggest Muslim faces of the party and commands strong influence in Western Uttar Pradesh areas like Moradabad, Amroha, and other cities.

SP’s Bareilly president Shivcharan Kashyap said that Akhilesh Yadav will arrive in Bareilly from Amausi Airport and from there, he will travel to Rampur by road.

He informed that the two leaders will meet and discuss issues in private.

The proposed meeting between the two comes amidst rumours of Azam Khan, once one of the most powerful ministers in the SP government, contemplating a switch to BSP.

Azam Khan, one of the tallest SP leaders in Uttar Pradesh, was incarcerated in jail for about two years, and this left him ‘disillusioned and disenchanted’ with the SP leadership, as the latter failed to show solidarity with him during his difficult time.

After his release from Sitapur jail on September 23, Azam Khan also said that he will meet only Akhilesh Yadav and no one else.

“Akhilesh Yadav will meet me, and I will meet only him,” he said, while replying to reporters, when quizzed about meeting the SP supremo.

He also said sarcastically, “It’s his magnanimity that he’s coming to meet a goat thief and a buffalo thief.”

Rumours of Azam Khan joining the BSP have been circulating in political circles for quite some time. However, he rubbished all these speculations, calling himself a true soldier of the party.

Azam Khan was one of the founding members of the Samajwadi Party and one of the closest aides of late Mulayam Singh Yadav. The meeting with Akhilesh Yadav is not only an attempt to rekindle old relationships but also to convey a message of unity within the party.

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FICCI Frames 2025: ‘Shaved Again After Reaching Colaba From Juhu But Now..’ Akshay Kumar Praises CM Fadnavis For Easing Traffic Congestion In Mumbai

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Mumbai, October 7: Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar engaged in a candid conversation with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday, applauding the state’s rapid infrastructure development. Sharing a personal experience, Akshay said with a laugh, “Four days ago, I travelled from Juhu to Colaba in just 35 minutes. Earlier, it used to take so long that I had to shave twice, once before leaving home and again after reaching the set,” he said jokingly, drawing smiles from the audience.

He went on to highlight how the city’s connectivity has transformed. “There was a time when we used to talk about South Bombay and North Bombay, but now, because of the infrastructure you’ve created, it feels like one Mumbai,” the actor remarked.

During the conversation, Akshay urged the Chief Minister to focus on improving Film City in Goregaon, which he described as the heart of India’s film industry.

Responding to Akshay’s appeal, CM Fadnavis acknowledged the issue and shared his long-standing vision for the project. “I’m glad you brought this up. During my tenure between 2014 and 2019, one regret I have is that I couldn’t execute the Film City redevelopment. We had planned and designed it to become a vibrant international ecosystem and had even spoken to the film fraternity,” he said.

The Chief Minister assured that under the current government, he intends to turn that vision into reality. “This time, I will ensure that Film City is developed into a world-class ecosystem—one that reflects Mumbai’s global creative strength,” he added.

The interview offered a blend of star power and state vision, underscoring how infrastructure and creativity together shape Mumbai’s identity as India’s commercial and cultural capital.

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