In October, the agency had previously conducted raids on the properties of the 49-year-old AAP MLA, representing the Okhla constituency in the Delhi assembly.
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated fresh searches at approximately four to five premises in the national capital on Tuesday as part of a money laundering investigation linked to AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and purported irregularities in staff recruitment for the Delhi Waqf Board, official sources disclosed. According to these sources, the raids are being conducted under the purview of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). About four-five premises are being covered by the ED officials, they said.
In October, the agency had previously conducted raids on the properties of the 49-year-old AAP MLA, representing the Okhla constituency in the Delhi assembly. In November, it arrested three individuals purportedly associated with Khan in this case. ED’s allegations centered on Khan allegedly amassing substantial “proceeds of crime” in cash through illicit staff recruitment within the Delhi Waqf Board, later investing these funds in acquiring immovable assets under the names of his associates.
“The searches (in October) were conducted in the case related to illegal recruitment of staff in Delhi Waqf Board and illegal personal gains by way of unfairly leasing out of Waqf Board properties during the chairmanship of the board by Amantullah Khan during 2018-2022,” the agency had claimed in a statement.
The ED underscored that its actions were predicated on a CBI FIR and three complaints lodged with the Delhi Police against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA.
The agency further alleged that Khan had accumulated substantial gains from these criminal activities in cash and utilised these funds to purchase various properties in Delhi under the names of his associates. The searches yielded significant physical and digital evidence incriminating Khan’s involvement in money laundering offenses, the ED claimed.
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had alleged that there was a deliberate campaign to dismantle the AAP and that false cases against party leaders were filed.
(With PTI inputs)
