Mumbai, Nov 18 (NationPress) A specialized PMLA court in Mumbai has dismissed a discharge application submitted in the money laundering case against former Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik, thereby facilitating the framing of charges on Tuesday.

The court has mandated that all accused, including Malik, must be present during the charge framing proceedings.

The discharge petition was filed by Malik’s entity, Malik Infrastructure, which contended that the Enforcement Directorate’s case was based on mere “guesses and conjectures” and asserted that the company did not exist during the timeframe of the alleged illicit land transactions.

However, the court determined that there was adequate prima facie evidence to move forward.

It was noted that preliminary investigations suggest that Malik, along with Haseena Parkar, Salim Patel, and Sardar Khan—who are allegedly affiliated with the D-Company—were involved in the unlawful acquisition and subsequent laundering of valuable land referred to as “proceeds of crime”.

Malik also requested a six-week postponement for the charge framing, citing an upcoming hearing on the matter in the Bombay High Court.

His attorney, Taraq Sayed, argued that the ED had withheld numerous documents that would aid the defense, suggesting that if full disclosure were made, there would be no necessity for charge framing.

Special Public Prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves countered that the High Court had not issued any stay, and therefore, the proceedings could not be paused.

Agreeing with the ED’s arguments, the court highlighted that both the Supreme Court and the High Court had directed that cases involving MPs and MLAs be expedited. Consequently, it dismissed Malik’s request for a delay.

Malik was apprehended by the ED in February 2022 for allegedly conspiring with underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim’s sister, Haseena Parkar, to unlawfully acquire approximately three acres of prime land in Mumbai’s Kurla area.

The ED has estimated the proceeds of crime to be around Rs 16 crore and has also alleged the use of forged documentation.

Malik and two companies have been named as accused, but no charges have been formally established yet. The court is expected to officially frame charges against all implicated parties later today.