Nawab Malik demands probe in Gujarat drug links

In an apparent reference to Dwarka and Mundra port hauls, minister says people named for various reasons in Aryan Khan case have been frequently visiting a minister from neighbouring state

Minority affairs minister Nawab Malik has questioned the Gujarat link in drug trafficking in the country after a massive haul of contrabands in Dwarka. He said on Thursday that the neighbouring state hosted cartels that received drugs from sea routes and distributed them across the country.

Malik, who has taken on some officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau’s Mumbai zone, said the persons named for various reasons in Aryan Khan’s arrest, Manish Bhanushali, Dhawal Bhanushali, KP Gosavi and Sunil Patil, have been frequently visiting Gujarat minister Kiritsing Rana and staying at a five-star hotel in Ahmedabad. He said Mumbai was deliberately projected as a drug haven.

“All these people are players in the drug business being operated from Gujarat. The DG of NCB should probe the matter thoroughly to end the drug menace in the country. The question is whether Gujarat is running the drug business or not,” said Malik, referring to the R350-crore drug seizure in Dwarka that followed an even bigger recovery at Mundra port.

Responding to ex-CM Devendra Fadnavis’s analogy of an animal for reacting to Malik’s charges, the minister said he wasn’t surprised nor hurt because the BJP leaders have been using such language. He said further that CM Uddhav Thackeray, his party boss Sharad Pawar, cabinet colleagues and MVA leaders were with him. “All are supporting me in my fight against injustice. At present, I alone, am sufficient for exposing the misdeeds,” he said. Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said the MVA support has given Malik’s tirade a moral standing.

Malik, Fadnavis to sue each other

Malik said his daughter Nilofer Malik Khan and her husband Sameer Khan have served a notice on Fadnavis for saying that drugs were seized from her husband’s home despite the court ruling that no such contraband was recovered. Sameer Khan was arrested by NCB in January and released on bail after eight months. The notice said public apology, if not given, will lead to civil and criminal defamation cases against the BJP leader.

Later in the day, Fadnavis’s banker wife Amruta said that she has asked Nawab Malik to delete defamatory, misleading and maligning tweets including some pictures in 48 hours with an unconditional public apology or face action. “Here is notice of defamation including criminal proceedings under various sections of IPC,” said her tweet on Thursday.

Rs 350 cr
Value of drugs seized in Dwarka recently

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