'Statements of witnesses indicate Nawab Malik's involvement in money-laundering'

Statements of witnesses prima facie show the involvement of Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik in money laundering the special PMLA court has saidSpecial judge R N Rokade made this observation in his order which became available on Tuesday remanding Malik to 14day judicial custody in a moneylaundering probe linked to the activities of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aides being probed by the Enforcement Directorate EDSenior NCP leader Malik 62 was arrested by the ED on February 23 He was sent to judicial custody on Monday as no further remand was sought by the probe agencyThough the ED didnt press for Maliks further remand it told the court that the accused was not cooperating in the investigationDuring the progress in the investigation statements of the witnesses were brought to the notice of the court On the basis of material placed before the court the accused was remanded to ED custody upto March 7It is to be noted here that prima facie there are statements of witnesses which show the involvement of the accused in money laundering the court addedThe court noted that the proceeds of crime are yet to be identified by the competent authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA 2002 and the investigation is at the initial stageIt is pertinent to note that the accused has challenged earlier remand orders as well as the arrest of the accused before the Bombay High court Having regard to the grounds mentioned in the remand report the accused is required to be remanded to judicial custody for 14 days the court saidThe ED had said in the remand plea that this is a sensitive case involving proceeds of crime apparently generated from the organised crime sector and its subsequent laundering which is currently under initial stages of the investigation The case also appears to have international ramifications as wellThe Central agency had also said that its officials were examining transactions to establish the money trail and trace the ultimate beneficiaries of proceeds of crime so generatedThe accused person Malik has not cooperated with the investigation and did not reveal the facts during the recording of his statement the ED statedFrom the investigation conducted so far and facts brought on record it is found that the accused person has played and continues to play a crucial role in laundering it allegedThe ED case against Malik is based on an FIR filed recently by the National Investigation Agency NIA against Ibrahim a fugitive gangster and others The NIA had filed its criminal complaint under sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPAThe ED had on Monday urged the Bombay High Court to dismiss the habeas corpus law writ issued to bring a party before a court or judge petition filed by Malik challenging his arrest by the antimoney laundering agency saying his arrest was as per lawThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever