Sorry, it’s Rs 5L, not Rs 55L: ED in Nawab Malik land matter

Nawab Malik. File Pic

NCP leader and state minister Nawab Malik paid Rs 5 lakh to Dawood Ibrahim's sister Haseena Parkar to take over a sprawling property in Kurla, the Enforcement Directorate told a special court on Thursday, admitting that it had mistakenly mentioned the amount as Rs 55 lakh in its first remand application.

Seeking Malik's custody for more time, the agency in its second remand application said, "...It is submitted that the same be treated as part & parcel hereof subject to a clarification that the figure of Rs 55 lakh in cash mentioned in para 30 of the earlier remand application was a typographical error and should be read as Rs 5 lakh."

The court extended Malik's custody till March 7. The minister was arrested on February 23. The revision of the amount prompted senior advocate Amit Desai, representing Malik, to quip, "This should shock the conscience of the court." Stressing that it was a typo, Additional Solicitor General said, "Even Rs 1 received as a terror funding would still be terror funding." The agency has sought to link Malik with terror funding through the Kurla land dealing.

ED said it lost time as Malik was hospitalised for 3-4 days. The agency said they have recorded a few more statements, including that of a 1993 blasts convict and the original owner of the property, Munira Plumber. It also accused Malik of usurping another piece of land in Kurla. In the second land matter, the ED remand plea said, Malik told the owner "baap dada ki property me kyu dimag kharab kar rahe ho". He also threatened the property owner, said ED.