National Desk
14 February
Ludhiana
Sandeep Dhand
The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought AAP leader Amanatullah Khan’s response to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea challenging a trial court’s decision in a money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board.
Justice Vikas Mahajan issued a notice to Khan, who is the AAP MLA from Okhla, and scheduled the next hearing for March 21. The court also directed the trial court to adjourn its proceedings until then.
The ED had filed a 110-page supplementary prosecution complaint—equivalent to a chargesheet—on October 29, 2024. However, the trial court had refused to take cognizance of the money laundering offence under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), citing the absence of necessary sanction to prosecute Khan. Following this, the court ordered his release.
Challenging this order, the ED moved the Delhi High Court, arguing that the trial court’s refusal to acknowledge the chargesheet was incorrect. The agency claims it has sufficient evidence to prosecute Khan in connection with alleged financial irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board.
Amanatullah Khan has been under investigation for allegedly misusing his position as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board to facilitate illegal appointments and financial mismanagement. The ED alleges that the case involves money laundering linked to corruption and misappropriation of public funds.
The high court’s decision on March 21 will determine the next course of action in this politically sensitive case.