Waqf Board Case: ED questions Amanatullah Khan, AAP attacks Centre

Waqf Board Case: ED questions Amanatullah Khan, AAP attacks Centre

Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday (Apr 18) questioned Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan in a money laundering case related to “illegal recruitment” by the Delhi Waqf Board. Earlier in the day, Khan had appeared before the federal agency for questioning. In the late evening, some AAP leaders claimed that Khan was arrested.

However, he told the media, “I was called (by ED) for questioning, Supreme Court had directed me to appear so I had come at 11:00 am. I was questioned and my statement was recorded and now I am leaving.” A video shared on ANI showed Khan reaching his residence after appearing before ED.

He also said, “I appeared before ED for questioning. Supreme Court had told me to join the investigation on 18th April. I was questioned for 12-13 hours and I gave proper answers to all the questions they asked.”

This comes after the Supreme Court refused to entertain his anticipatory bail plea on Monday. The bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta asked Khan to appear before ED on April 18 at 11:00am (IST).

Earlier, AAP leader Sanjay Singh claimed: “This matter has been going on since 2016 and the CBI filed a chargesheet and Amanatullah Khan was not arrested.”

“Even the court told ED that it has no proof against Amanatullah Khan, despite this, he is being arrested. This conspiracy has been created to dismantle the Delhi government and break the party,” he said.

Targeting the Centre, Singh further said, “I want to tell this to PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah in very clear words that their Operation Lotus will not be successful in Delhi.”

“Your dictatorship will end soon. This matter has been going on since 2016 and the CBI filed a chargesheet and Amanatullah Khan was not arrested,” he added.

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What’s the case about? 

Recently, the government agency filed a charge sheet against four people and one firm in a case of alleged money laundering at the Delhi Waqf Board. The case is of the time when Amanatullah Khan was the chairman.

The case is related to the purchase of a property worth Rs 36 crore in the Okhla area at the alleged behest of Khan, who is also a sitting MLA from that area, the ED said.

ED had recently filed a charge sheet against four accused persons, including Qausar Imam Siddiqui. The court has dismissed the bail application of the three accused namely Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir, and Jawed Imam Siddiqui in this case.

(With inputs from agencies)