Nationalist Congress Party leader Nawab Malik.
Credit: PTI File Photo
The Supreme Court on Friday granted interim bail on medical grounds for two months to former Maharashtra minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik in a money laundering case.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), said he would not oppose the bail sought on medical grounds for a stipulated time period.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Malik, submitted that his client’s health was not in good condition and urged the top court to grant him medical bail. Sibal said Malik is suffering from a kidney ailment and is also undergoing medical treatment for the same.
A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Bela M Trivedi allowed the plea, making it clear that the bail was being granted only on medical grounds and not on merits of the case.
The apex court, in its order, noted that Malik was in the hospital for kidney disease and other aliments.
“We are passing the order strictly on medical conditions and have not entered merits," the bench said.
Malik had approached the apex court challenging a Bombay High Court order rejecting his application for a temporary medical bail plea.
Malik was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in February 2022 in connection with a money laundering case linked to fugitive terrorist Dawood Ibrahim.
Malik had moved the Bombay High Court after a Mumbai special court rejected his bail plea in the matter in November last year.
The high court had noted that Malik's right to life was not infringed in any manner as he had been getting "specialized medical assistance".