Nawab Malik hits back, says Devendra Fadnavis has close links with Dawood Ibrahim gang

Addressing a counter-press conference in Mumbai, Malik accused Fadnavis of "criminalisation of politics" and said that after demonitisation, the DRI raided places at BKC and seized Rs 14.56 crore fake notes but the Leader of Opposition and the then CM buried the case.

Mumbai: Maharashtra government minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik on Wednesday categorically refuted the charges levelled against him by former chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and accused him of trying to protect NCB official Sameer Wankhede who is under the spotlight in the Aryan Khand drugs case.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Malik accused Fadnavis of "criminalisation of politics" and said that after demonetisation, the DRI raided several places at BKC and seized Rs 14.56 crore fake notes but the Leader of Opposition and the then CM buried the case.

"It is due to the friendship between Sameer Wankhede and Devendra Fadnavis that criminal activities flourished in Mumbai and Maharashtra during the BJP government's tenure," the senior NCP leader alleged. Malik sought to know how an IRS officer Sameer Wankhede has been posted in Mumbai for the last 14 years.