Delhi Court Orders Release Of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan In Waqf Board PMLA Case
A Delhi Court on Thursday ordered the release of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan in a money laundering case connected to the alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board recruitment during his chairmanship.Special Judge Jitender Singh refused to take cognizance of ED's supplementary chargesheet against Khan under PMLA for the lack of requisite sanction in terms of Section 197 (1)...
A Delhi Court on Thursday ordered the release of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan in a money laundering case connected to the alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board recruitment during his chairmanship.
Special Judge Jitender Singh refused to take cognizance of ED's supplementary chargesheet against Khan under PMLA for the lack of requisite sanction in terms of Section 197 (1) of Cr.P.C.
“In the case in hand, there is no legal ground to justify further detention of the accused in custody. Keeping the accused in custody in these circumstances when the cognizance has been declined for the absence of sanction u/s 197 (1) Cr.P.C., shall tantamount to illegal custody,” the Court said.
The judge added that no sanction from the competent authority or Government was placed on record against Khan.
“Therefore, while exercising powers u/s 59 of Cr.P.C. (analogous Section 60 of BNSS, 2023), it is directed that the accused be released from custody, on furnishing of personal bond in the tune of Rs. 1,00,000/- (Rupees one lac only) with one surety of the like amount, for securing his presence in case the sanction is obtained and filed by the complainant in future,” the judge ordered.
The court also said that there was no evidence to proceed against one Mariyam Siddiqui, also named as an accused in ED's supplementary chargesheet.
The case alleges that Amanatullah Khan, while working as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, illegally recruited various people in violation of norms and government guidelines.
ED has alleged that Khan acquired huge proceeds of crime in cash from illegal recruitment of staff in the Delhi Waqf Board and invested the same to purchase immovable assets in the name of his associates.
Khan was arrested by ED on September 02 after searches were conducted by the central probe agency at his residence.
Khan was denied anticipatory bail by a coordinate bench on March 11. Later, the Supreme Court, on April 23, refused to entertain his petition against the verdict.