Today, On 3rd July, The Delhi High Court denied bail to two individuals, Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir, involved in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in Delhi Waqf Board recruitment, which also implicates AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma rejected their bail pleas, citing ample evidence to justify the bail restrictions under the anti-money laundering law.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court denied bail to two individuals, Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir, who arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in November 2023 in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the recruitment process of the Delhi Waqf Board. This case also involves AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan.
In the order passed on July 1, 2024, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed the bail pleas of Haider and Nasir, stating sufficient evidence to apply the bar on granting bail under the anti-money laundering law.
The court observed that Amanatullah Khan, as alleged, purchased immovable properties in the names of “benamidars” (or proxy owners) Haider and Nasir, by understating the actual value of the properties and concealing the cash payments made to the sellers.
The court stated,
“The Directorate of Enforcement’s investigation uncovered substantial evidence indicating that Amanatullah Khan orchestrated a criminal conspiracy with his close associates, including the current applicants/accused and others, He utilized his illicit funds, referred to as proceeds of crime, to invest in real estate through his associates Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir, and others.”
The court highlighted that transactions for property purchases involved both cash and banking channels, amounting to roughly Rs 36 crore.
The court concluded,
“Thus, the material brought before this Court at this stage is sufficient to attract bar under Section 45 of PMLA on both the applicants. Considering the aforesaid facts and circumstances, this Court does not find it a fit case for grant of regular bail to the present applicants i.e., Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir,”
The money laundering case against Khan originated from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR and three complaints from the Delhi Police.
The agency’s prosecution complaint, akin to a charge sheet, names five individuals, including three alleged associates of Amanatullah Khan, Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir, and Jawed Imam Siddiqui. According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which previously conducted raids on Khan’s premises, Khan amassed substantial “proceeds of crime” in cash through the illegal recruitment of staff in the Delhi Waqf Board. He then invested these illicit funds in purchasing immovable assets under the names of his associates.
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The ED stated that the searches conducted in connection with the illegal recruitment of staff and the unlawful personal gains obtained by leasing Waqf Board properties from 2018 to 2022, during Khan’s tenure as chairperson. During the raids, numerous “incriminating” materials, both physical and digital, were seized, further implicating Khan in money laundering activities.
In March, while expressing disapproval of public figures repeatedly evading summons from investigating agencies, the high court denied anticipatory bail to the AAP MLA in this case.