The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday raided AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in Delhi as part of a money-laundering investigation against him and some others, official sources told news agency PTI. Khan represents the Okhla constituency in the Delhi Assembly.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches are being undertaken under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The federal agency has taken cognisance of a Delhi Anti-Corruption Bureau FIR and a Central Bureau of Investigation FIR against the legislator, related to alleged corruption linked to illegal appointments in the Delhi Waqf Board. Khan is the Delhi Waqf Board chairman, the report mentioned.
Last week, the central agency raided the residence of AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in connection with the Liquor Policy case and arrested him after a nine-hour search. The action earned the ruling BJP government at the Cenrtre massive flak. The AAP alleged that the action was taken against Singh for rasing questions on Adani.
Reactiing to the raids on Khan, Shiv Sena leader of the Uddhav faction, Sanjay Raut said, "Raids on opposition leaders will continue till 2024 (Lok Sabha polls). What happened to the list of 10-12 people in Maharashtra that we gave to the ED? These raids on the opposition will continue."
However, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said, "Jaise jaise kadiya mil rahi hai, waise waise zanjeer ban rahi hai'. If he is involved in corruption, investigation agencies will do their work."
What Is The Case?
The federal agency has taken cognisance of a Delhi Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) FIR and a Central Bureau of Investigation FIR against the legislator in connection with the alleged corruption linked to illegal appointments in the Delhi Waqf Board. Khan was arrested by the Delhi ACB in September 2022.
The ACB case pertained to "financial misappropriation and other irregularities in the functioning of the Delhi Waqf Board".
The ACB FIR alleged that Khan, while working as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, illegally recruited 32 people, violating all norms and government guidelines. It also accused him of corruption and favouritism, PTI reported.
"The then CEO of the Delhi Waqf Board had clearly given statement and issued memorandum against such illegal recruitment. Further, it is alleged that as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, Amanatullah Khan rented out a number of properties of the Delhi Waqf Board illegally, with allegations of corruption and favouritism," the ACB said in a statement issued in September 2022.
It has been further alleged that he misappropriated Delhi Waqf Board funds, comprising grants in aid from the Delhi government, it had said.