Delhi court orders release of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan

In a significant relief for AAP, a Delhi court on Thursday granted bail to MLA Amanatullah Khan in a money laundering case linked to the Delhi Waqf Board.

Special Judge Jitendra Singh of the Rouse Avenue Court ruled that although there is sufficient evidence to proceed against Khan, the lack of proper sanction for his prosecution barred the court from taking cognisance of the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) chargesheet.

While approving Khan’s bail, the court set a surety amount of Rs 1 lakh for his release.

The ED’s supplementary chargesheet, filed on October 29, accused Khan of laundering money allegedly obtained through corrupt practices linked to the Delhi Waqf Board, particularly regarding the purchase of land worth Rs 36 crore in Okhla.

However, the court emphasised that without the requisite approval from the competent authority, it could not move forward with the case. It also found no evidence to prosecute Mariyam Siddiqui, another individual named in the ED’s supplementary chargesheet, leading to the dismissal of charges against her.

Kejriwal said, “Today Amanat was also released. With this, all leaders of AAP came out. If someone had done something wrong, he would have joined their party by now. All leaders are honest and courageous.”

Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia said, “Despite their lies and manipulation truth has prevailed with Amanatullah Khan’s bail. Kejriwal will return as Delhi’s CM.”

“The money laundering case has become a drama and a weapon of the BJP. I repeatedly tell PM Modi that if he is so full of anger, resentment and hatred, then he should make us stand at a crossroads and have us shot,” said Sanjay Singh.