MUMBAI: NCP leader Praful Patel on Tuesday said that the party will approach the appropriate court to ensure that both former minister Anil Deshmukh and cabinet member Nawab Malik are able to vote in the June 10 election to the Rajya Sabha.
“Both Deshmukh and Malik are in judicial custody. They will move court to ensure that they get permission to vote in the Rajya Sabha election,” Patel, who is a candidate for the Rajya Sabha election, said.
Both Deshmukh and Malik were arrested by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Both politicians are lodged in the Arthur Road Jail.
In the past, the special designated ED court had granted permission to NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and Ramesh Kadam to vote during the July 17 presidential election, which was won by Ramnath Kovind of the BJP.
At the time, Bhujbal was in judicial custody following the registration of an offence against him by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Kadam’s reason for being in judicial custody was that he had been slapped with a case of fraud and cheating.
Subsequently, Bhujbal was acquitted. In the MVA government in power in the state, he is minister for food and civil supplies.
Every single vote is significant for the MVA government, since it is contesting four seats the Congress and the NCP, one each, and the Shiv Sena, two. As a result, it will be important for the NCP to ensure that both Deshmukh and Malik secure permission from the court for voting in the election to the Rajya Sabha.
