Bombay High Court declines urgent hearing on Nawab Malik’s bail cancellation

The Bombay High Court on Thursday decided not to expedite the hearing of a petition seeking to cancel the bail of former Maharashtra minister and Ajit Pawar faction NCP candidate Nawab Malik.
The petitioner alleges that Malik has violated bail conditions by travelling outside the jurisdiction of the Mumbai court without permission.
Petitioner’s lawyer, Advocate Chandrakant Mishra, argued before Justice Manish Pitale that Malik had left the Mumbai jurisdiction for more than four days without informing the court. Malik was granted bail by the Supreme Court on medical grounds, but Mishra claimed Malik is in good health and actively participating in election campaigning.
Malik’s lawyer, Advocate Taraq Sayed, denied these claims, stating that Malik had only been away for a couple of days. Justice Pitale asked Mishra to provide evidence, prompting Mishra’s team to present videos and photographs. The court declined to review the evidence immediately, stating there was no urgency, but agreed to hear the main bail petition on December 9.
Malik is running for the Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar Assembly seat, with voting scheduled for November 20.
His bail conditions, set by the High Court, require him to stay within Greater Mumbai unless he requests permission to travel longer. The complaint was filed by one Samson Pathare, who claims Malik’s actions violate these conditions.
One of the bail conditions was that Malik “shall remain within the jurisdiction of the PMLA Court, Mumbai i.e. Greater Mumbai till the trial is concluded, save and except for a period extending up to 4 days, subject to the condition of placing on record of the PMLA Court, Mumbai, the details of the itinerary/tour program. In order to remain outside the jurisdiction of the PMLA Court for a period of more than 4 days, the applicant shall seek specific prior permission of the PMLA Court.”