Aam Aadmi Party MLA Amanatullah Khan was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday following an early morning raid at his residence. Khan, who serves as the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, is under investigation for alleged irregularities related to Waqf properties.
Khan’s cousin, Minnatullah Khan, has asserted the MLA’s innocence, highlighting past investigations by the Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Central Bureau of Investigation that reportedly found no evidence against him.
In a self-recorded video, Amanatullah Khan accused the ED of harassment, stating that he has been targeted for the last two years. He mentioned that despite his compliance with all notices, the ED continues to act against him as part of a larger scheme to weaken his party. Khan expressed his frustration, noting, “It’s seven in the morning, and the ED has come to arrest me under the pretext of a search warrant. My mother-in-law, who is battling cancer, is at home. I have responded to every notice they’ve sent. Their sole aim is to destabilize our party. We will not be broken.”
Khan firmly maintained his innocence, labeling the case as “completely false.”
AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh also condemned the ED’s actions, backing Khan and criticizing the agency’s motives. Singh took to social media, stating, “Amanatullah Khan cooperated with the ED investigation and requested more time. Despite his mother-in-law’s critical health, the ED chose to raid his home early in the morning. There’s no evidence against him, yet the ED’s actions showcase Modi’s dictatorship and hooliganism.”
This arrest follows a previous legal battle where the Rouse Avenue Court granted Khan bail in April concerning the ED’s complaint about alleged non-compliance with summons in the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case. The ED accused Khan of avoiding the investigation by seeking anticipatory bail.
The case involves allegations of illegally leasing Waqf properties worth Rs 100 crore and the appointment of 32 contractual employees during Khan’s tenure as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, violating existing regulations. A charge sheet has already been filed against four individuals and one company in this ongoing investigation.