AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan Leaves ED Office Post Midnight Grilling

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan was questioned for over 13 hours by the ED and left the office at midnight.

The Enforcement Directorate today questioned Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board. According to reports, Khan was questioned for over 13 hours 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. He arrived at the ED office in central Delhi at approximately 11 am and departed after midnight, enduring over 13 hours of interrogation.

What Is The Case?

The money laundering case against Khan has its root in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR and three Delhi Police complaints. The ED also alleged that 'illegal recruitment' of staff took place in the Waqf Board and 'illegal personal gains' were made by unfairly leasing the Waqf Board properties during Khan's chairmanship (2018-2022). The probe agency further said that Khan acquired huge proceeds of crime out of the said criminal activities in cash and this cash amount was invested in purchase of various immovable properties in Delhi in the name of his associates. The ED also said that several 'incriminating' material in the form of physical and digital evidence were seized during the raids indicating Khan's role in money laundering.

Khan Says Followed Rules

Speaking to reporters before entering the ED office, Khan claimed that during his tenure as the chairman of the Waqf Board, he adhered to the rules. He asserted that he sought legal opinions and conducted all actions in accordance with the new Act governing the board, which was introduced in 2013.

The ED had earlier conducted raids on the premises of the AAP MLA. The central probe agency has claimed Khan acquired 'huge proceeds of crime' in cash through illegal recruitment of staff in the Delhi Waqf Board and invested those to purchase immovable assets in the name of his associates. 

AAP Alleges False Case

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had alleged this investigation was among those 'false cases' which were being filed against its party leaders. "We have heard that AAP leader Amanatullah Khan has been arrested. This is an absolutely false case. ED has no proof or proceeds of crime. This is just another conspiracy against the AAP... I want to tell BJP and their leader PM Narendra Modi that even if they arrest each and every member of the AAP, the people of Delhi will still stand with Arvind Kejriwal and vote for him," said Delhi minister Atishi.

AAP leader and Delhi minister Saurabh Bharadwaj said that the exact same case has been going on since 2016 with the CBI that there have been some recruitments in the Waqf Board, which have been done with a process. "When there has been no give and take of money in the recruitment process, involvement of the ED in this matter does not make any sense and raises serious questions...ED has been involved so that they can arrest the person for months at a stretch without paying attention to any proof or witnesses...Amanatullah Khan can be arrested on similar lines..." said Bhardwaj.

The Supreme Court, in its April 15 order where it refused any relief to Khan, had voiced its displeasure over the MLA skipping ED summonses. The agency filed a chargesheet in this case in January and named four people including three alleged associates of Khan -- Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir and Jawed Imam Siddiqui. (With agency inputs)