A warrant for AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan's arrest is being issued by the Enforcement Directorate

In reply to the investigation agency's request for more time to submit supporting documentation for its application, the court scheduled the proceedings for April 18.

Amanatullah Khan, an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA, was the target of an arrest warrant without bail filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday in a Delhi court. The request was made in relation to a money laundering case involving purported anomalies in appointments within the Delhi Waqf Board. In response to the probe agency's request for more time to submit supporting documentation for its application, the court scheduled the hearing for April 18.

"The Bail and Filing Section has received a new application for the issuing of an open-ended, non-bailable warrant against Amanatullah Khan. It is being verified and recorded in accordance with the regulations. The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) for the ED requests a period of time to submit specific supporting documentation. Heard. According to news agency PTI, Special Judge Rakesh Syal of the Rouse Avenue court stated, "As requested, put up for consideration on April 18, 2024."

Three suspected colleagues of the Okhla MLA were among the four individuals against whom the Enforcement Directorate had filed a charge sheet. A Delhi court summoned Khan to appear before it on April 20 earlier this week after the ED filed an application to start a trial against the Okhla MLA for disobeying the central agency's summons. Khan had been summoned to appear for questioning on January 23, January 31, February 9, February 19, February 26, and March 4, but had not followed through on the ED's claim.

What is the Delhi Waqf Board case?

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case from 2016 served as the basis for the ED's investigation into a money laundering case involving suspected irregularities in appointments at the Delhi Waqf Board. The Delhi government allegedly suffered financial losses, and Khan, the board's chair at the time, was charged by the CBI with unlawfully nominating a number of individuals to the Delhi Waqf Board in lieu of authorized and unfilled positions. In addition, he was charged with unlawfully leasing off Waqf Board properties.

After conducting raids on the locations connected to the Okhla MLA last year, the ED proceeded to file allegations of money laundering against him. The investigation agency claims that during its searches, it uncovered a number of "incriminating" materials—both digital and physical—that suggested Khan's possible involvement in the money laundering crime.

Khan had earlier filed a request for anticipatory bail in the case with the Delhi High Court. His plea was rejected by the court.