On Wednesday(10th April), ED moves Delhi court for arrest warrant against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in money laundering probe linked to Delhi Waqf Board appointments.
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DELHI: On Wednesday(10th April), The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has approached a Delhi court, seeking an arrest warrant for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan. This request is linked to a money laundering case concerning alleged irregularities in appointments within the Delhi Waqf Board, as the ED continues its investigation into the matter.
Special Judge Rakesh Syal, who presides over cases involving the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate, has set a hearing date for April 18, 2024.
This decision came after the ED requested extra time to submit certain supporting documents for their application.
The judge mentioned-
“A new application for an open-ended non-bailable warrant against Amanatullah Khan has been received from the Bail and Filing Section. It will be reviewed and registered according to the rules. The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) representing the ED has asked for some time to file specific documents in support of the application. In response to this request, the hearing has been scheduled for April 18, 2024.”
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Amanatullah Khan, the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Okhla and a notable figure within the AAP, was not listed as a defendant in the recent chargesheet submitted by the ED. Nevertheless, the agency has reached out to a magisterial court, seeking Khan’s prosecution on allegations of failing to respond to the agency’s summons in the case.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Divya Malhotra has summoned Khan to appear before the court on April 20 in relation to the case. The ED has further alleged that Khan has transformed his role from that of a witness to an accused by filing an anticipatory bail plea and attempting to evade the investigation.
The ED emphasized its inability to complete its investigation into Khan due to his refusal to cooperate and appear before the agency.
In a statement, the ED stated-
“All other individuals are associates of this specific individual. His involvement exceeds that of the other accused individuals who have already been apprehended and charged.”
The prosecution complaint filed by the ED lists five entities, including three individuals suspected to be associated with Amanatullah Khan: Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir, and Jawed Imam Siddiqui. The agency initiated its investigation following raids on properties linked to Khan and others in October of the previous year.
The investigation uncovered allegations that the AAP MLA obtained substantial proceeds of crime in cash through illegal staff recruitment within the Delhi Waqf Board. These funds were allegedly invested in real estate assets under the names of Khan’s associates.
The ED has accused Amanatullah Khan of involvement in the illegal recruitment of staff and the unjust leasing of Waqf Board properties between 2018 and 2022, while he served as the board’s chairperson. The money laundering case stems from an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and three separate complaints lodged with the Delhi Police.
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In the course of the ED’s raids, a variety of incriminating materials, including both physical and digital evidence, were seized. These findings further suggest Amanatullah Khan’s purported involvement in money laundering.