|HT|
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik introduced fake tenants on properties bought with money belonging to fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim to decrease the registration value of such land. The federal agency arrested Malik, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), after grilling him for over seven hours in a money laundering case linked to the activities of the Mumbai underworld, Ibrahim and his aides.
Additional solicitor general Anil Singh and advocate Hiten Venegaonkar were arguing for the ED that sought Malik’s custody for 14 days for further interrogation. “We may be given 14 days custody so that we don't come again before we will complete investigation. The ED said Ibrahim’s sister Haseena Parkar was acquiring property for him in India and Malik was introducing the tenants on such properties. The properties were later sold at values less than market rates. The agency said Malik in connivance with Parkar took the property and real owners were not even allowed to visit the property. “Fake tenants were introduced on property real tenant's did not even get a penny,” it said.
“The property is under their control. It’s a clear case of money laundering. Hence, we ask for custody,” the ED said.
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