The Bombay High Court has issued an interim stay on the proceedings in a special court related to a money laundering case filed against former Maharashtra minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Nawab Malik and others. This development puts a temporary halt to the trial that was set to commence after charges were framed late last year.
Court Order and Key Dates
Justice Shyam C Chandak of the Bombay High Court passed the order for an ad-interim stay on December 18, 2025. The court directed that all proceedings before the trial court be paused until the next date of hearing. The High Court has scheduled the next hearing in this matter for January 23, 2026.
The stay was granted after Malik's legal team presented their petition challenging an earlier order from the special court. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), represented by the Additional Government Pleader (AGP), requested additional time to file its formal reply to Malik's petition, which the court allowed.
Background of the Legal Challenge
The core of Nawab Malik's challenge before the High Court revolves around a September order from the special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court. Malik had filed an application seeking details of documents that the Enforcement Directorate allegedly had in its custody but did not file along with the chargesheet.
The ED contested this plea, stating it did not possess any such additional documents. The special court accepted the agency's submission and rejected Malik's application in September. It is this rejection order that Malik appealed before the High Court, arguing it impacted his right to a fair trial.
Charges Framed and Trial Proceedings
Prior to this High Court intervention, the special court had made significant progress in the case. On November 18, 2025, the court formally framed charges against Nawab Malik and three other accused individuals. This procedural step officially paved the way for the trial to begin.
Following the framing of charges, the special court had listed the case for December 19, 2025, for the submission of the list of documents by the prosecution. However, the High Court's interim stay order on December 18 effectively suspended this and all subsequent steps in the trial court.
The legal tussle highlights the ongoing scrutiny faced by the former minister under the anti-money laundering law. The interim relief from the High Court provides a temporary reprieve as the higher judiciary examines the procedural aspects raised by the defense. The outcome of the January 23 hearing will determine whether the trial court proceedings remain suspended or resume.
