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Maharashtra

Malik becomes first serving Maha minister to be held for money laundering, sent to 8-day ED custody

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3 years ago

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A special PMLA court in Mumbai on Wednesday remanded Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik to eight-day ED custody till March 3, nearly 15 hours after his pre-dawn dramatic detention, interrogation and arrest in an alleged money-laundering case arising out of a tainted land deal.

Malik was produced by the Enforement Directorate (ED) before the special court eight hours after his detention and arrest on Wednesday evening, following which a furious legal battle ensued for his 14-day remand with the defence team opposing the same.

The development gave a massive jolt to the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government as Malik became the first sitting Cabinet minister to be arrested, sending tremors in the political circles.

After a series of meetings with top leaders of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, it was decided that irrespective of the court orders, Malik would not be compelled to resign as the Minority Affairs Minister.

On Wednesday afternoon, ED Assistant Director Niraj Kumar said in his arrest order that the agency had “reason to believe” that Malik “has been found guilty of an offence punishable under the provisions of PMLA,” and accordingly placed him under arrest at 2.45 pm.

Shortly after the formal arrest, Malik was whisked away by an ED team to a government hospital for a medical check-up from where he was taken to the designated special PMLA court.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh represented the ED while senior counsel Amit Desai appeared on Malik’s behalf, as the minister’s colleagues, political activists and relatives reached the court.

While he was escorted out of the ED office by the CISF, police and ED staff, a grinning Malik in a white kurta-pyjama was seen raising a fist in the air, and declaring: “Jhookenge Nahin, Ladenge Aur Jeetenge” (Will not succumb, will fight and win) to his supporters as he was made to sit in a vehicle.

The fast-paced developments started with an ED team along with a CISF team knocking at Malik’s home at around 4.30 am and taking him away a couple of hours later for questioning in the 17-year-old Kurla land deal case having a mafia taint, with an alleged money-laundering angle emerging from it.

The ED had deployed teams of the CISF and Mumbai Police for the operation even as a large number of NCP workers staged a noisy protest outside the agency’s office since morning to protest against the detention of Malik.

Malik, 62, became the first sitting minister and the second senior NCP leader in the MVA government to be arrested by the ED. Former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was arrested by the ED on November 2, 2021 in alleged corruption and money-laundering cases.

Malik’s arrest triggered hectic political activity with NCP President Sharad Pawar rushing to meet Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal Balasaheb Thorat, Ashok Chavan and others in an urgent meeting held on Wednesday evening.

The MVA partners and top leaders like Pawar, Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, Majeed Memon, Chhagan Bhujbal, Vidya Chavan, Sanjay Raut, Kishore Tiwari, Nana Patole, Chavan, Naseem Khan, and others slammed the ED for the action against Malik, saying they would not be “cowed down” by the vendetta politics and targetting of opponents, and “silencing” them by letting loose central probe agencies on them.

Simultaneously, the opposition BJP sharpened its swords and intensified efforts to bring down the MVA government before its declared deadline of March 10.

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis termed the matter as “extremely serious” since the land worth crores of rupees was allegedly grabbed at a throwaway price with persons linked to absconding mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, colluding with enemies of the country, and the proceeds were laundered for terror funding and anti-national activities.

BJP state President Chandrakant Patil demanded that since Malik has been arrested, he should quit, as also all other ministers facing various allegations should resign from the Cabinet immediately, failing which the BJP would launch an agitation on the streets.

The MVA leaders announced a sit-in at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi near Mantralaya at Nariman Point on Thursday morning, besides announcing statewide protests against Malik’s arrests, highlighting how the central probe agencies are being misused to topple the Maharashtra government and other states ruled by the Opposition parties.

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Maharashtra

Loudspeakers of mosques in Mumbai, Kurt Somaiya’s notice against mosques, threat of deteriorating atmosphere, police notice to maintain law and order,

Published

12 hours ago

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April 21, 2025

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Mumbai: Mumbai The controversy over loudspeakers of Mumbai mosques has now intensified. BJP leader Kret Soumya is adamant on action against mosques in Mumbai, after which the Mumbai Police also issued a restraining order notice to Kret Soumya. But despite all this, Kret Soumya visited the Bhandup police and not only demanded action against loudspeakers, but the police, under Kret Soumya’s pressure, took action against loudspeakers of four mosques in Malind. In addition, an illegal mosque was located in Jala Ram Market. Action was taken against it. So far, 11 loudspeakers have been removed. All these loudspeakers were on the mosque within the limits of the Bhandup police station. This information was given by Kret Soumya.
Bhandup police had issued a notice under Section 168 to Kreet Soumya to maintain law and order, asking him not to visit the Muslim settlements of Bhandup Khandipara during his visit on April 19, as this could pose a threat to law and order and also create traffic problems. Along with this, the police had also issued an order for action under Section 223 for violating the notice, despite which Kreet Soumya appeared at the Bhandup police station.
Kreet Soumya’s incitement against mosques is at its peak, and Kreet Soumya’s campaign in Mumbai city is also threatening law and order and communal harmony, while Kreet Soumya has also warned of intensifying this campaign, which continues to pose a law and order problem in Mumbai city. Kret Soumya’s campaign against mosques has also raised fears of communal tension, while the police have now started the process of sending notices to Kret Soumya for visiting Muslim-majority areas. However, despite this, Kret Soumya tries to pressure police officers by going to the relevant police station, while the police have banned Kret Soumya from entering mosques and other religious places in Muslim-majority areas. This is the first time this action has been taken against Kret Soumya in Bhandup.

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Maharashtra

Demolition action on Jain temple in Vile Parle is unfair -: Abu Asim Azmi

Published

16 hours ago

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April 21, 2025

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Mumbai: On the demolition of the Jain temple in Mumbai’s Vile Parle, Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and Worker’s Assembly termed it as injustice by BMC and said that there is a need to formulate a separate law for religious places because in such a situation there is a risk of deterioration of the environment. He said that the legal stage needs to be completed before taking action on mosques, temples and religious places. The 90-year-old Jain temple was demolished by BMC even before the court’s decision.
This stage was under hearing before the action on the Jain temple, but the BMC has taken this action in a hurry. Before the Jain temple that was demolished, the documents related to the temple and the decision were received. The BMC did not show patience even until the temple was demolished. He said that the BMC takes more swift action on the demolition of religious places instead of demolishing illegal encroachments. He said that the order not to take action on structures and religious places built before 1995 was given by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi. He said that action is needed against such officers who promote illegal constructions and along with action against them, fines should also be collected from them for the demolition of illegal structures.

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Maharashtra

Congress locks Mumbai ED office, Case registered against Congress workers

Published

2 days ago

on

April 19, 2025

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Mumbai: Mumbai Enforcement Directorate Police have registered a case against 15 to 20 Congress workers for protesting by locking the ED office. The protest was held at the ED office when it was on holiday and the Congress workers locked the already locked office. According to the police, the office was closed during the protest, but a case has been registered against Congress workers and protesters in this case. The protesters also raised anti-government slogans during the protest at the ED office and the protesters said that Modi sends the ED forward whenever he is afraid. Congressmen have continued to protest against the investigation and inclusion of their names in the charge sheet against Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case. Congressmen have protested in the same manner, after which a case has been registered. This case was registered by MRA Marg Police and the investigation is ongoing. No one has been arrested in this case, this has been confirmed by local DCP Praveen Kumar. Police have tightened security around the office following the protest.

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