The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan in connection with a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal recruitment by the Delhi Waqf Board.
This move comes just two days after the Supreme Court declined to grant anticipatory bail to Khan in the case, directing him to appear before the anti-corruption agency on April 18.
The case against Khan stems from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR and three complaints filed by the Delhi Police. According to the CBI charges, Khan purportedly amassed substantial proceeds of crime in cash through illicit recruitment of staff at the Delhi Waqf Board and utilised these funds to purchase properties under the names of his associates.
During Khan's tenure as chairman of the Waqf Board from 2018 to 2022, the ED alleges that illegal recruitment took place, leading to personal gains through improper leasing of properties.
The Supreme Court, while refusing anticipatory bail to Khan, cautioned the ED against arbitrary arrests under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), emphasising the need to adhere to legal procedures.
"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," the bench stated in its order.
Khan's application for anticipatory bail was previously rejected by a trial court on March 1, prompting him to approach the Delhi High Court. Despite legal proceedings, Khan remains steadfast in his denial of the allegations against him.
However, with the ED's arrest and the Supreme Court's directives, the case against Khan is set to progress further, marking another chapter in the ongoing legal saga surrounding the Delhi Waqf Board scandal.
As developments unfold, the nation watches closely, awaiting the outcome of this high-profile case that has significant implications for both the political landscape and the fight against corruption in India.
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