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Delhi court grants bail to AAP leader Amanatullah Khan in Waqf Board money laundering case

Online Niel November 14, 2024

In a significant development in the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has granted bail to AAP leader Amanatullah Khan.

The court refused to take cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Khan and others.

In its order, the court ordered Khan’s release from jail, saying the necessary sanction to prosecute him had not been obtained.

The court also observed that there was no evidence to proceed with the case against Mariyam Siddiqui, who was also named in the supplementary charge sheet.

The case relates to an alleged purchase of land valued at 36 million lei in Okhla.

Although the ED filed a supplementary chargesheet against Khan and Siddiqui, the bench noted that proper approval to prosecute the AAP leader was not obtained from the concerned authorities. Consequently, the court ordered his immediate release.

Although the court acknowledged that there was sufficient evidence against Khan, it pointed out that without the necessary sanctions, the trial could not proceed, India today reported.

The court added that once the required sanction is obtained, it may consider taking cognizance of the impeachment process.

On October 29, the ED filed an additional case against AAP MP and former Delhi Waqf Board Chairman Amanatullah Khan in connection with a money laundering probe related to the Delhi Waqf Board case.

The chargesheet also named Mariam Siddiqui, though she was not arrested.

The Rouse Avenue court is due to hear the matter on November 4.

Amanatullah Khan was earlier arrested in connection with the case on September 2 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The ED alleged that Khan laundered funds acquired through corrupt practices during his tenure at the Waqf Board from 2016 to 2021 and used the money for real estate investments.

The ED probe stemmed from an FIR by the CBI under the Prevention of Corruption Act alleging illegal appointments of employees of the Delhi Waqf Board, which caused significant financial loss to the government.