Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case, has been hospitalized and his condition is critical.
The 62-year-old Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, who is currently in judicial custody, was arrested on February 23, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) linked to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides.
After his health deteriorated, the minister filed a bail application on medical grounds in the Special Court on April 28. His advocate Tarraq Sayyed moved the plea for interim bail before special judge RN Rokade.
Malik had earlier told the court that he was unwell due to kidney ailments and had swelling in his legs.
During the hearing of the matter on Monday, Malik Lawyers said the minister was taken to JJ Hospital on a stretcher after his health deteriorated in Arthur Road prison and added that he has been sick for 3 days, while seeking interim medical bail on humanitarian grounds.
On this, the ED’s lawyer asked why his health condition had not been communicated before and asked for the next hearing.
However, the court said the health of the accused is more important.
Later in the day, JJ Hospital issued a statement, saying Malik came to JJ Hospital at around 10 am on Monday with an upset stomach. “Necessary examinations are done. His BP was not maintaining. Currently, he is admitted for observation in ICU for 24 hours. Right now he is stable,” the hospital said.
Last month, the ED had filed an over 5,000-page charge sheet in the case against Malik.
