News Brief
Enforcement Directorate Challenges Release Of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan In Delhi Waqf Board Money Laundering Case
Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has challenged a trial court's decision in the Delhi High Court, which declined to take cognizance of its supplementary chargesheet in the money laundering case involving the Delhi Waqf Board.
The trial court had also ordered the immediate release of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan from judicial custody, citing the lack of required sanctions to proceed with the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
During the hearing on Monday (2 December), the Delhi High Court questioned the ED’s position on the offense and the issue of sanctions as outlined under PMLA.
The court requested clarification from the ED and scheduled a detailed hearing for 13 January 2025. Additionally, the court instructed the ED to submit the orders passed by the trial court in relation to the chargesheet, which had been reviewed in the ongoing proceedings.
The ED argued that the trial court should have addressed the issue of cognizance when Khan applied for bail, instead of granting his release without considering the merits of the charges or verifying whether the necessary sanctions for prosecution had been obtained.
The ED’s supplementary chargesheet, filed on 29 October, accuses Khan of laundering money that allegedly resulted from corruption within the Delhi Waqf Board, where Khan served as chairman.
According to the ED, Khan recruited individuals illegally, bypassing government norms, and accepted significant bribes in exchange. These illicit funds were then allegedly used to purchase properties in the names of Khan’s associates.
On 14 November, the trial court had rejected the chargesheet, ruling that while there was sufficient evidence to proceed against Khan, the lack of necessary sanctions to prosecute him under PMLA halted the case. The court subsequently ordered Khan’s immediate release from judicial custody, prompting concerns from the ED regarding the handling of the case.
