GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 11th April. The Enforcement Directorate has requested a Delhi court to issue an arrest warrant against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in a money laundering case related to alleged irregularities in appointments at the Delhi Waqf Board.
Special Judge Rakesh Syal, who handles cases for the CBI and ED, has scheduled a hearing for April 18 after the ED asked for time to submit certain documents in support of their application.
A new application for an open-ended non-bailable warrant against Amanatullah Khan has been received and will be processed according to the rules. The Special Public Prosecutor for the ED has requested additional time to file necessary documents. The judge has agreed to consider the matter on April 18, 2024.
Although Khan, the Okhla MLA of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was not named as an accused in a recent chargesheet filed by the ED, the agency has sought prosecution of Mr. Khan for allegedly avoiding the agency’s summons in the case.
The ED has also claimed that Khan has transitioned from being a witness to an accused by filing an anticipatory bail plea and evading the investigation.
The agency has mentioned that they have been unable to complete the investigation against Mr. Khan as he has not cooperated by presenting himself before them.
The ED has highlighted that Khan’s role is more significant than the other accused individuals who have already been arrested and charged. The agency has named five entities in its prosecution complaint, including three suspected associates of Mr. Khan.
Following raids on properties linked to Mr. Khan and others last year, the ED alleged that the AAP MLA had obtained significant proceeds of crime through illegal staff recruitment at the Delhi Waqf Board and used them to purchase assets in the names of his associates.
The ED has accused Khan of engaging in illegal recruitment and personal gain by leasing out Waqf Board properties during his tenure as chairperson from 2018 to 2022.
The money laundering case originated from an FIR filed by the CBI and three complaints from the Delhi Police. The agency claims to have seized incriminating physical and digital evidence during the raids, indicating Khan’s involvement in money laundering.
