Mumbai, Nov 18 (NationPress) A Special PMLA Court in Mumbai has formally framed charges against former Minister of Maharashtra and NCP leader Nawab Malik in connection with a money laundering case that is tied to notorious underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim’s criminal organization.

Malik, who is currently out on bail, has denied all allegations. However, the court determined that there is sufficient evidence to move forward with the case.

This case involves the purported illegal acquisition of approximately three acres of land located in the Goawala Compound in Kurla, allegedly owned by one Munira Plumber.

Malik, along with Dawood Ibrahim’s sister Haseena Parkar, her associate Salim Patel, and Sardar Khan, who is linked to the 1993 Mumbai blasts, are accused of conspiring to seize the land and subsequently launder the funds, with the Enforcement Directorate estimating the proceeds at around Rs 16 crore.

Earlier in the day, the court rejected a discharge plea presented by Malik’s company, Malik Infrastructure, which claimed that the Enforcement Directorate's case was founded on mere “guesses and conjectures” and that the company didn’t exist at the time of the alleged transactions.

The court, however, ruled that there was ample prima facie evidence to proceed, highlighting that initial investigations suggested Malik and the other accused, allegedly linked with the D-Company, were involved in the unlawful acquisition and laundering of the property.

Malik also requested a six-week delay in the framing of charges, stating that a petition in the Bombay High Court was due for a hearing soon. His lawyer, Taraq Sayed, argued that the ED had not provided certain documents essential for the defense, suggesting that once full disclosure was made, there might be no necessity to frame charges.

Special Public Prosecutor Sunil Gonsalves countered this by stating that there was no stay order from the High Court, thus the trial must continue. The court concurred, citing directives from the Supreme Court and High Court to expedite cases involving Members of Parliament and Legislative Assembly, and denied Malik’s request.

The ED arrested Malik in February 2022, alleging that he colluded with Haseena Parkar to unlawfully obtain the Kurla property using forged documents and threats. Malik and two companies are among those indicted in this case.

On Tuesday afternoon, the court officially framed charges against Malik and the other defendants, marking the commencement of the trial.