Court allows Malik to shift to private hospital
MUMBAI: A special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002) court on Friday permitted Maharashtra minority development minister Nawab Malik to be shifted to a private hospital in Kurla for treatment. The special court was informed by Malik’s lawyer that JJ Hospital had made them shift hospitals for several procedures and pathological examinations, perhaps because the state-run hospital either did not have the department concerned or proper equipment to conduct all requisite tests. When the court sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the agency’s counsel said they do not have any objection to Malik being referred to other hospitals for tests. ED had, however, opposed the NCP leader’s plea, claiming all requisite facilities were not available at JJ Hospital.
The court then allowed Malik, presently lodged at Arthur Road jail in central Mumbai, to be shifted to Criti Care hospital in Kurla, for treatment and also allowed his daughter to remain present and attend to him during his hospitalisation.
The 63-year-old minister had on April 28 moved the special court for six-week temporary bail on medical grounds, claiming that he had been suffering from kidney-related complications due to the formation of a renal cyst and the JJ Hospital has recommended that he undergo surgery. ED arrested Malik on February 23 in connection with a money laundering case registered against fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and some of his close aides on February 14. The case is based on an FIR registered by the NIA on February 3, 2022, against the gang. ED claimed Malik usurped a prime property originally owned by one Munira Plumber through Solidus Investments, in active connivance with Haseena Parkar, the late sister of Dawood Ibrahim.