Early Life and Education
Nawab Malik was born on June 20, 1959, in Duswa, Uttar Pradesh. He moved to Mumbai with his family in 1970 for better prospects. He completed his schooling at Noor Baug Municipal School and Anjuman Islam High School, CST, and pursued higher education at Burhani College, Mumbai.
Political Career
Nawab Malik’s political journey began in 1979 when he participated in a city-wide student protest against a fee hike at Mumbai University. He initially joined the Sanjay Vichar Manch and later worked closely with Maneka Gandhi. He contested his first election in 1984 but gained only 2,500 votes. Malik then joined the Congress before moving to the Samajwadi Party, where he won a by-poll and served as a minister in the Congress-NCP alliance government in 1999. He later joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) due to differences with Abu Azmi.
Major Achievements
Ministerial Roles: Malik has held several ministerial positions, including Minority Development, Skill Development, and Entrepreneurship Minister of Maharashtra. He also served as the Guardian Minister of Gondia and Parbhani districts.
Legislative Contributions: As the Chairman of the Vidhan Sabha Assurance Committee, he resolved over 5,000 issues, some pending since 1991.
Key Political Initiatives
As the Minority Affairs Minister, Nawab Malik spearheaded various initiatives to uplift minority communities in the state. He actively pushed for skill development programs to create employment opportunities and focused on education for minority youth. Malik also played a significant role in shaping policies aimed at the socio-economic betterment of these communities
Controversy
Allegations Against Sameer Wankhede
Nawab Malik has been vocal about his allegations against Sameer Wankhede, a senior officer at the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). Malik accused Wankhede of corruption and questioned his recruitment process. This controversy escalated during the investigation of the Aryan Khan drug case.
Feud with Devendra Fadnavis
Malik and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have exchanged serious allegations. Malik accused Fadnavis of having connections with drug dealers and the underworld. In response, Fadnavis alleged that Malik had acquired property in Kurla from individuals linked to the Mumbai underworld.
Arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)
In February 2022, Nawab Malik was arrested by the ED in connection with a money laundering case linked to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. The ED investigated a property deal in Kurla, where Malik allegedly paid ₹80 lakh to Haseena Parkar, Dawood Ibrahim’s sister, to acquire a 3-acre land.
Social Media Restrictions
Following his allegations against Sameer Wankhede, Malik was barred from making further comments about Wankhede on social media. Despite this, he continued to post tweets and documents related to the controversy.
Return to Politics
Malik’s return to the political scene after being granted interim bail sparked controversy. His appearance alongside Deputy CM Ajit Pawar caused unease within BJP ranks.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis opposed including NCP MLA Nawab Malik in the ‘Maha Yuti’ alliance, citing his ongoing money laundering case and medical bail status. Fadnavis argued that Malik’s inclusion would be inappropriate due to the serious allegations and expressed concerns about the decision harming the alliance. Malik’s factional affiliation within the NCP remains unclear.
Social Media
Personal Life
Malik is married to Mehjabeen, and they have four children – two sons, Faraz and Aamir, and two daughters, Nilofer and Sana. His family has been closely involved in his political journey, with his son-in-law, Sameer Khan, making headlines during a high-profile case in recent years
Promises and Future Commitments
A new flyover will soon link Mankhurd East to West, significantly improving travel efficiency for residents of Maharashtra Nagar and nearby areas.
A new burial ground will soon be established in Oswal Compound, Vashi Naka, providing a much-needed facility for the local community.
A new turf has been inaugurated in Panjrapol, thanks to Nawab Malik’s efforts. This facility aims to nurture the athletic potential of local youth and support their overall development through sports.