Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday arrested Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik in a money laundering case related to the activities of the Mumbai Underworld. Nawab Malik was produced before the court where the court sent him on remand of the Enforcement Directorate for eight days till March 3. Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and several other ministers of the state staged a sit-in on Thursday to protest against the arrest of the same Nawab Malik. Pawar was the first to reach the dharna site near Mahatma Gandhi's statue near the state secretariat ministry.

State Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, Health Minister Rajesh Tope, Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat, Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil, Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar, Minister of State for Home Satej Patil and Minister of State for Tourism Aditi Tatkare also joined the protest. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule and State Commission for Women Chairperson Rupali Chakankar were also present.

Talking to the media, Thorat claimed that central investigative agencies are being used to silence political rivals. "It is very unfortunate and a dark chapter in the country's history," the Congress leader said. NCP state unit chief Jayant Patil said the allegations against Malik were "baseless". He said that Malik will answer all the charges against him of terrorism-related links in court. He claimed that the BJP's "attempt to oust the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government from power" has not yet succeeded. The proceedings against the cabinet member are part of this.

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