The Bombay High Court questions how charges are framed against NCP leader Nawab Malik in a money-laundering case when his plea seeking seized documents is still pending. Malik challenges the framing of charges by a special PMLA court dated November 18, 2025.
Malik argues that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) withheld documents favourable to him and that producing them could have affected the decision to frame charges. He had sought deferment of proceedings until the High Court addresses the issue of documents that, according to his plea, were not relied upon by the ED. The ED responds that some documents sought by Malik were destroyed in a fire at its Fort office in April 2025. The ED also cites allegations involving proceeds of crime of about Rs 16 crore and Malik’s alleged acquisition of a three-acre plot in Kurla, Mumbai, using forged documents.
Outlets also report that the hearing on Malik’s plea is slated for October 8, and that the ED says it did not press for framing of charges before the trial court following assurances given to the High Court. The central differing angle across reporting is the procedural focus: whether charges were framed while related document issues remained unresolved, alongside how the ED explains the availability of documents.
