“Central Govt Is Indulging In Hooliganism”, Says AAP’s Saurabh Bhardwaj After ED Raids AAP MLA Amanatulllah’s Residence

New Delhi [India]: Aam Aadmi Party MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj on Monday accused the central government of “hooliganism” and described the Waqf properties money laundering case against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan as “rotten.”

“The Central Government is openly indulging in hooliganism. In the rotten case related to recruitment in Waqf Board, then Chairman of the Board and our MLA Amanatullah Khan was made an accused.” Bhardwaj said.

Bhardwaj said that the court had given Amanatullah Khan bail in the Anti-Corruption Buerau case. He further alleged that the central government are “misusing agencies”.

“First, there was a hue and cry in 2016 that ACB is investigating. ACB interrogated him and even arrested him and then the same ACB case was blown to pieces in the court when the court granted him bail and said that in your case there is no allegation that anyone was given a job on the basis of money transaction.” Bhardwaj said
“Now, a third agency has come in the same case. ED has raided and interrogated. You would remember that the interrogation was going on till 11:30 at night. The central government is misusing agencies against its political rivals,” Bhardwaj further added.
Earlier, Amanatullah Khan claimed that the ED officials had arrived at his house in Okhla to arrest him.

In a post on X, Khan said, “ED people have just arrived at my house to arrest me.”
Meanwhile, BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari that the raids against the corrupt will continue.

“There will be raids against the corrupt. Amanatullah Khan went to the Supreme Court at the beginning of 2024. He had demanded from the Supreme Court that he should not be served a summon by the Enforcement Directorate and he should get relief from it. The Supreme Court said this is not possible and he will have to appear before the Enforcement Directorate and he will have to follow the summons. So my question is that, in this country, in the system of law, whoever does corruption according to the law, will go to jail.” Bhandari said.

“There is only one place for hardcore corrupt people and that is jail and whatever legal action is being taken is being done on the instructions of the Supreme Court and under its supervision. So if this action is being questioned, then it is being questioned by the Aam Aadmi Party.” Bhandari further added.

Earlier in April this year, the Rouse Avenue Court granted bail to Khan in connection with the Enforcement Directorate’s recent complaint filed against him for alleged non-attendance of the summons in the Delhi Waqf Board money laundering case.

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ED recently moved a complaint against him for not appearing before the agency and not joining the probe in the case related to the alleged irregularities in appointment in Delhi Waqf Board and leasing of its properties.

The federal probe agency had alleged that Khan has elevated his role from witness to accused by filing an anticipatory bail plea and running away from the investigation. ED’s lawyer further stated that they were never able to conclude the probe against him because he was not presenting himself before the agency.

A charge sheet has already been filed against four accused persons and one firm. It has been alleged that Rs 100 crore Waqf Properties were given on lease illegally. It is also alleged that 32 contractual employees were appointed in the Delhi Waqf Board during the chairmanship of Khan, who flouted the rules.