New Delhi (India), February 13: The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a notice to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan in response to a plea filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The ED had challenged the trial court’s decision that ordered Khan’s release in a money laundering case tied to alleged irregularities during his tenure as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board.
The court, led by Justice Vikas Mahajan, stayed the trial court’s proceedings until the next hearing, scheduled for March 21, 2025. The High Court had previously instructed the ED to present various orders issued by the trial court in the case, emphasizing the significance of the sanction issue for prosecution. The court further directed the ED to clearly address this matter, instead of merely mentioning it in their petition, as it could be subject to contestation.
Advocate Zoheb Hossain represented the ED in the matter.
The Case Background: The money laundering case is centered around the alleged misuse of funds related to the Delhi Waqf Board‘s recruitment process. Khan is accused of being involved in financial irregularities during his tenure as chairman. One major aspect of the case involves the purchase of a property worth Rs 36 crore in Okhla, which the ED alleges was financed using proceeds of crime. The ED claims Rs 27 crore of the amount was paid in cash.
The ED has linked Khan to the property transaction through a diary and WhatsApp messages, one of which includes the phrase, “Netaji ko paisa pahuncha diya,” referring to the timing of the financial transaction.
The ED also claimed that Khan tampered with his mobile phone during a search on October 10, 2023, allegedly deleting important data.
Previous Trial Court Ruling: In December 2024, the Rouse Avenue Court had ordered the release of Amanatullah Khan on a bond of Rs 1 lakh with a like amount for surety. The court also declined to take cognizance of the chargesheet filed against him, citing the absence of the necessary sanction for prosecution. Although the court acknowledged there was sufficient evidence against Khan, it ruled that the case could not proceed without the required sanction.
In contrast, Mariam Siddiqui, who was also named in the chargesheet, was discharged from the case as the court found no evidence against her.
The ED had filed a supplementary chargesheet in October 2024, naming Amanatullah Khan and Mariam Siddiqui in connection with the alleged money laundering activity. Khan was arrested in September 2024, while Siddiqui was charged without arrest.
This ongoing legal battle continues to unfold, with the ED challenging the trial court’s ruling, while the next hearing in the case is set for March 2025.