New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday (September 19) issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and sought its response on a plea filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan challenging his arrest in a money laundering case linked with alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board during his chairmanship.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, while hearing Khan’s plea and issuing notice to the ED, asked the central to file a status report within two weeks and posted the matter for further hearing on October 18.
ED arrested Khan in money laundering case on September 2
The ED arrested Khan in the money laundering case on September 2 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after a search was conducted at his residence in Okhla in the national capital. He is currently lodged in judicial custody till September 23.
Submitting that his arrest in the money laundering case was “illegal and unconstitutional”, Khan has sought quashing of his arrest in the money laundering case.
ED raised a preliminary objection on maintainability of Khan’s plea
During the hearing before the High Court, the ED raised a preliminary objection on the maintainability of Khan’s plea on the ground of suppression of facts, submitting that he had suppressed information about the dismissal of his anticipatory bail plea earlier by a coordinate bench of the high court which had earlier considered the same material that he has furnished now. Later the Supreme Court refused to interfere with the order of the High Court and the appeal against the High Court order was withdrawn by Khan.
There is no concealment of any facts and full disclosure of facts have been made: Khan’s counsel
Khan’s counsel, however, submitted that there is no concealment of any facts and full disclosure of facts have been made in the plea filed by Khan. Khan’s counsel further urged the court to set aside the remand order of the trial court and grant him interim relief by ordering his release till the pendency of Khan’s petition.
Money laundering case stems from a CBI FIR and three Delhi Police complaints
The money laundering case against Khan stems from a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation and three Delhi Police complaints.
Five people, including three alleged associates of Khan – Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir and Jawed Imam Siddiqui – have been named by the ED in its prosecution complaint.
As per the ED, Khan acquired “huge proceeds of crime” in cash through illegal recruitment of staff in the Delhi Waqf Board during his chairmanship and invested the money to purchase immovable assets in the name of his associates.
