Delhi court grants bail to AAP leader Amanatullah Khan in money laundering case | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue court in Delhi on Thursday granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Amanatullah Khan in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Delhi Waqf Board. The court’s decision follows the filing of a 110-page charge sheet by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 29, accusing Khan of laundering money allegedly derived from corrupt activities within the Waqf Board.
The court ordered Khan’s release on a bail of Rs 1 lakh, saying that while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) charge sheet presents a compelling case, prosecution cannot proceed without proper permission. In the same judgment, the court refused to hear the allegations, saying there was a procedural lapse in the case against the MLA. Khan’s co-accused, Mariam Siddiqui, was also dismissed due to lack of evidence against her.
Khan, who was arrested on September 2 following a raid on his home in Okhla, has been under judicial custody since then. The ED claims that Khan was ‘evasive’ during interrogation, prompting further investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). His judicial detention was extended several times, with the current period due to end on November 16.
On Wednesday, the court had taken a decision on whether to accept the ED’s additional charge against Khan and Siddiqui. The ED has argued that releasing Khan could disrupt the ongoing investigation and possibly lead to witness tampering.
The ED probe links Khan’s alleged criminal activities to two separate cases: a CBI probe into irregularities in the Waqf board and a probe by the Delhi Police’s anti-corruption wing into disproportionate assets. The agency maintains that it has gathered substantial evidence to pursue charges against Khan under the PMLA.