Former Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik has been granted interim bail for two months on medical grounds by the Supreme Court on Friday.
The Bombay High Court had rejected the same observing that he was provided adequate medical help at a private hospital of his choice and as his health was also being monitored by specialist medical practitioners, his right to health or life was not infringed in any manner.
Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in February 2022 in connection with a money laundering case linked to Dawood Ibrahim.
“He is in hospital for kidney disease and ailments. Let counter affidavit be filed to the main petition within 5 weeks and rejoinder thereafter in 3 weeks. List after 10 weeks. Bail granted. We are passing the order strictly on medical conditions and have not entered merits,” the order said.
Malik’s legal team has been arguing that his health has been deteriorating over the past few months, and he has been suffering from stage 2 to stage 3 chronic kidney disease.
The Opposition NCP in the state has welcomed the top court order granting relief to the party’s “strong and loud voice”.
“The party welcomes Nawab Malik wholeheartedly. We eagerly await his return. He has been the strong and loud voice of the party and it is good to know that the court has given him bail,” said Mahesh Tapase, spokesperson for the Sharad Pawar-led NCP.
