Delhi Waqf Board money-laundering case: Court orders release of AAP legislator Amanatullah Khan

In a relief to AAP legislator Amanatullah Khan, a court in Delhi on Thursday refused to take cognizance of a charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case. The Rouse Avenue Court ruled that the prosecution complaint was filed without obtaining the necessary sanction under the law.

While the court acknowledged there was sufficient evidence against Khan to proceed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), it noted that no sanction had been granted for his prosecution.

Special Judge Jitendra Singh ordered Khan’s release from custody, on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, with a surety of the same amount. Khan, an MLA from Delhi’s Okhla constituency, had been in judicial custody since his arrest on September 2.

The ED had filed a supplementary charge sheet earlier this month, adding more charges and naming alleged accomplices of Khan, including Daud Nasir, Zeeshan Haider, and Jawed Imam Siddiqui. These individuals were arrested by the ED in November 2023.

The ED's investigation centers around suspected money laundering linked to Khan’s tenure as Chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board. The agency alleges that Khan made illegal appointments and leased assets improperly during his time in office. Khan’s arrest followed an ED raid on his residence in Okhla, where the agency claimed he purchased property worth over Rs 35 crore.

In addition to the ED’s investigation, Khan is facing corruption charges in separate cases filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The case dates back to November 2016, when the CBI began investigating illegal appointments within the Waqf Board. Khan is accused of bypassing rules to appoint his associates to key positions.