The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has lodged a complaint case against Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan for failing to appear before the agency in connection with the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case.
The matter has been scheduled for consideration tomorrow at the Rouse Avenue court.
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Divya Malhotra, upon hearing the submissions of the ED, has listed the matter for further proceedings on April 6.
The ED has initiated a complaint case under section 174 IPC, 1860, read with section 63 (4) of PMLA, 2002 for non-compliance with Section 50, PMLA, 2002.
Special Public Prosecutor (SPP), Simon Benjamin, represented the ED during the proceedings.
On March 11, the Delhi High Court dismissed Amanatullah Khan’s anticipatory bail plea. Despite several summonses by the ED, Khan has failed to appear. His earlier anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the trial court.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed the plea with stern remarks, emphasizing that elected representatives and public figures are not exempt from the law. She rejected the contention that Khan might have been arrested had he appeared before the ED, stating that such submissions cannot be entertained.
The High Court emphasized that investigating agencies have the right to conduct investigations and that no person, including an MLA or any public figure, is above the law.
Observing Khan’s repeated avoidance of ED summons, the High Court deemed such behaviour impermissible and noted irregularities in the purchase of a property worth Rs 36 crore, with a significant cash payment of Rs 27 crore and doubts surrounding two sale agreements.
Furthermore, the High Court highlighted the public’s right to know the truth when their elected leader is under investigation.
In light of Khan’s conduct of evading investigation, the High Court concluded that there were no grounds for granting anticipatory bail.
On March 1, the Rouse Avenue court dismissed Khan’s anticipatory bail plea related to the purchase of a property worth Rs 36 crore in the Okhla area.
This case pertains to the alleged illegal lease of Rs 100 crore Waqf properties and the purported appointment of 32 contractual employees at the Delhi Waqf Board during Khan’s chairmanship, flouting regulations.
