Delhi Court Dismisses AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan’s Bail Plea
New Delhi, March 1 (IANS) – A Delhi court on Friday dismissed AAP legislator Amanatullah Khan’s anticipatory bail plea in connection with the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case. Special Judge Rakesh Syal of Rouse Avenue Court pronounced the verdict after having it reserved on February 24.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had recently summoned the accused and opposed the anticipatory bail application, citing concerns that Khan may not cooperate in the investigation if granted pre-arrest bail. Special Public Prosecutors Manish Jain and Simon Benjamin argued that Khan had concealed facts in his plea, having previously approached the Delhi High Court against the summons, later withdrawn.
Khan had challenged the constitutional validity of Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and sought to quash cases by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) and ED. Senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy, representing Khan, argued for interim protection but the court declined. She emphasized the issue of two FIRs in the same case, highlighting the allegation regarding Khan’s appointment as Chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board.
Guruswamy pointed out that previous bail orders concluded there was no loss to the exchequer, with no evidence of bribery or proceeds of crime recovery. Special Judge Syal had taken cognizance of an ED charge sheet against several individuals, including Zeeshan Haider, in the case involving a property worth Rs 36 crore allegedly acquired with illicit funds, influenced by Khan facilitating a cash transaction.
The ED presented evidence of a Rs 27 crore cash transaction related to the property, with investigations considering earlier FIRs by the CBI, ACB, and Delhi Police. The agency alleged that the property was purchased at Khan’s behest, suggesting his involvement in the illicit fund acquisition, implicating several individuals.
