In a massive development, Maharashtra Minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik on Wednesday was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case pertaining to money laundering against India's most wanted Dawood Ibrahim and his aides. Nawab Malik was taken into custody after he was questioned for about five hours at the ED office in south Mumbai's Ballard Estate area since around 8 AM. Malik's statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and he was arrested under the same provisions as he was allegedly evasive in his replies.
Following his arrest by the ED, the office of Nawab Malik took to its Twitter handle and shared a photo of the NCP leader outside the Centre's financial probing agency. After his arrest, Nawab Malik quoted Allu Arjun starrer-Pushpa's dialogue 'Main Jhukega nahi' in order to show his firm stance despite his arrest. 'Main Jhukega Nahi' is a famous dialogue of South Indian actor Allu Arjun's recent blockbuster movie Pushpa. In the movie, Allu Arjun decide to not bow down and says 'Pushpa! Pushpa Raj! Main Jhukega Nahi'.
Why Nawab Malik was arrested by the ED?
As per Indian Express, the ED is looking into a Kurla property deal of Nawab Malik, among others. The property was allegedly bought by Malik from an aide of Dawood Ibrahim at a price lower than its prevailing market rate. As per report, Malik's name popped up when the ED was probing a hawala case. The ED was probing money laundering case against Dawood Ibrahim, Iqbal Mirchi, Chhota Shakeel, Parkar and Javed Chikna after it found several hawala transactions linked to money illegally obtained through extortion, drug trafficking, sale of real estate in Nagpada and Bhendi Bazaar area of Mumbai, and other unlawful activities.
NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar slammed the centre for arresting Nawab Malik and stated that the Malik was speaking against the central government and it agencies and therefore he expected it will happen sooner or later. "Nawab Malik constantly speaks against the central government and the ED, so action has been taken against him. I was sure that sooner or later this will happen," said the NCP chief.