ED arrests AAP's Amanutullah Khan in Delhi Waqf Board linked money laundering case
- In Reports
- 11:24 PM, Apr 18, 2024
- Myind Staff
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan was arrested on Thursday by the Enforcement Directorate after extensive questioning in connection with a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board.
According to reports, Khan was questioned for over 10 hours before getting arrested by the ED. Khan appeared before the ED after the Supreme Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea and asked him to appear before the ED today.
The money laundering case against Amanatullah stems from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR and three Delhi Police complaints. The ED, which had conducted raids on the premises of the legislator, has claimed Khan acquired huge proceeds of crime in cash through the illegal recruitment of staff in the Delhi Waqf Board and invested those to purchase immovable assets in the name of his associates.
The Enforcement Directorate alleged that illegal recruitment took place at the Waqf Board and that unfair personal gains were obtained through improper leasing of properties during Khan's tenure as chairman from 2018 to 2022.
The SC on Monday cautioned the ED against unnecessarily exercising the right to arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
"You arrest him in case there is material. In case, there is no material, do not arrest him. You have to follow Section 19 of the PMLA. Right to arrest should not be taken for granted," said the bench to ED's counsel, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju.
The bench, in its order, stated, "It is pointed out by the senior advocate appearing for the petitioner that ED has filed an application for the issuance of non-bailable warrants before the Special Court. He stated that the petitioner would appear before the officers of ED on April 18, 2024, at 11 am... In case the petitioner appears, the ED shall withdraw the application filed before the Special Court."
Speaking to reporters before entering the ED office, Khan asserted that during his tenure as the chairman of the Waqf Board, he strictly followed the regulations. He claimed to have sought legal advice and ensured that all decisions were made in accordance with the new Act governing the board, which was implemented in 2013.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had accused this investigation of being one of the "false cases" targeting its party members. The Supreme Court, in its April 15 ruling denying relief to Khan, expressed dissatisfaction with the MLA for not complying with the ED's summonses. The agency had filed a chargesheet in January, naming four individuals, including three alleged associates of Khan—Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir, and Jawed Imam Siddiqui.
Image source: Business Today
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