As the political battle between the BJP and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Government in Maharashtra continues, former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday claimed that Minister Nawab Malik has relations with the underworld as he purchased land from them during 2003 to 2005.
Denying the allegations, Mr. Malik slammed the former CM saying he will expose the BJP leader on Wednesday for his aid extended to the underworld in Mumbai during his tenure.
“Solidus investment is Nawab Malik’s company and land in Kurla was purchased from underworld criminals Sardar Shah Wali Khan and Mohd Salim Ishaq Patel during 2003 to 2005,” said Mr. Fadnavis. Sardar Shah Wali Khan is convicted in 2007 by a TADA court to life imprisonment in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case. The Supreme Court confirmed the sentence in 2013. Ishaq Patel alias Salim Patel as he’s known is the front man of Haseena Parker. He was arrested in 2007 with Haseena Parkar in land grabbing and other fraud issues.
Mr. Fadnavis said three acres were purchased at LBS road for only ₹20 lakh. “Why did you purchase land from criminals of Mumbai. In such a serious matter where the underworld and the blast convicts have connections with Minister Nawab Malik, I will submit the documents to appropriate agencies for further investigation,” he said.
In response, the Minister said he will bring forth evidence of the former CM’s relations with the underworld and expose how officials were working with a don sitting in Dubai. “It seems the person providing information to Fadnavis is an amateur. The said land known as Goawala compound was built in 1984 where a residential co-operative housing society exists even today. When I was elected as an MLA first time in 1996, I had an office in the said compound. Fadnavis who became MLA in 1999 has not been briefed properly,” said Mr. Malik.
He said his company did business with whoever was appointed as official person by the owner of the compound. “Each and every paper of the transaction is available in the public domain. Those who want to check, can do it. Fadnavis lied and that too without any preparations,” he said.
The war of words between the two leaders started a week ago when Mr. Malik raised questions over a photograph of an arrested drug peddler with Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Mr. Fadnavis, and said the alleged peddler was a finance head of a song sung by Ms. Fadnavis. Mr. Fadnavis had then claimed that he will drop a bombshell post Diwali exposing Mr. Malik and submit the documents to NCP president Sharad Pawar. Mr. Malik said the BJP leader’s fire-crackers seem to have dampened.
