AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan Gets Bail In Delhi Waqf Board Case

Amanatullah Khan Bail: The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) had arrested Khan after conducting raids at his premises on September 16.

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan

Source : PTI

A Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan in a case related to alleged irregularities at the Delhi Waqf Board. The Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) had arrested Khan after conducting raids at his premises on September 16.

"The application is allowed. Personal bond of Rs one lakh(with one surety of the like amount to be furnished), "Special Judge Vikas Dhull said.

According to the FIR, Amanatullah Khan, while working as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, illegally recruited 32 people by violating all norms and government guidelines.

The ACB also alleged that Khan rented out several properties of the Waqf Board illegally amid allegations of corruption and favouritism. The FIR also alleged that Khan misappropriated funds of the Waqf Board comprising grants-in-aid from the Delhi government, PTI reported.

READ | AAP Leader Amanatullah Khan Sent To 14-Day Judicial Custody In Waqf Graft Case

The first FIR in the case was registered in January 2020 under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act read with section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code. Later, Section 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act as well as Section 409 of the IPC were added into the case.

Earlier this week, the court sent Khan to 14 days of judicial custody.

During the hearing, senior advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for Khan, said all ingredients for Section 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant or by banker, merchant or agent, etc.) of the IPC were missing and the prosecution had "cherry-picked Khan for reasons of their choice". 

Mehra said that there was "absolutely no misappropriation of funds", nor was there any prima facie evidence of any money has exchanged hands.

The counsel also said that no rules were violated and the allegations were at best a procedural lapse, attracting departmental proceedings.

Raids were conducted at the residences of Amanatullah Khan and his business partner Hamid Ali Khan Masood. Two pistols and some ammunition, as well as Rs 24 lakh in cash were discovered from two of his associates during the raids, news agency ANI had reported. 

Khan's associate Kausar Imran Siddiqui alias Laddan was also arrested from Telangana.