Delhi Court Grants Bail To AAP Leader Amanatullah Khan In Waqf Board Money Laundering Case

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

The court has declined to take cognisance of the supplementary chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against Khan and others.

The court in its order directed Khan’s release from jail, stating that the necessary sanction to prosecute him was not 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 pertains to an alleged land purchase valued at Rs 36 crore in Okhla.

Although the ED had filed a supplementary chargesheet against Khan and Siddiqui, the court the court noted that the proper approval for prosecuting the AAP leader was not obtained from the concerned authorities. As a result, the court ordered his immediate release.

While the court acknowledged that there was sufficient evidence against Khan, it emphasised that without the necessary sanctions, the trial could not proceed, India Today reported.

The court added that once the required sanction is obtained, it could then consider taking cognisance of the charge sheet.

On 29 October, the ED had filed a supplementary chargesheet against AAP MLA and ex-Delhi Waqf Board Chairman Amanatullah Khan in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the Delhi Waqf Board case.

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

The Rouse Avenue Court is set to hear the matter on 4 November.

Amanatullah Khan was previously arrested in connection with this case on 2 September 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’s investigation originated from an FIR by the CBI under the Prevention of Corruption Act, alleging illegal appointments of employees in the Delhi Waqf Board, which caused significant financial losses to the government.

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