Delhi High Court Seeks ED’s Response on Amanatullah Khan’s Arrest
New Delhi, India – The Delhi High Court has asked the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) to respond to a plea by Amanatullah Khan, an MLA from Okhla, who is challenging his arrest in a money laundering case. The case involves alleged irregularities in appointments made at the Delhi Waqf Board during Khan’s tenure as its chairperson.
Legal Proceedings
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna’s bench issued a notice to the ED and scheduled the next hearing for October 18, 2024. Khan’s petition argues that his arrest violates his fundamental and human rights, calling it an “unprecedented assault” on his constitutional rights.
Khan’s Arguments
Khan, a member of the Aam Aadmi Party, claims that the ED’s actions are illegal and unconstitutional. He asserts that his arrest is politically motivated and intended to harass him. He also argues that his detention is unjustified, as he was arrested for not providing a self-incriminating statement.
Khan contends that the ED has not provided any evidence linking him to money laundering activities, which is essential under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He is seeking relief from the court, invoking its extraordinary writ jurisdiction to address the alleged breach of his fundamental rights.
Background
Khan was arrested by the ED and is currently in judicial custody at Tihar Jail. The arrest is part of an investigation into the purchase of a Rs 36 crore property in Okhla and other financial dealings during his tenure as the chairperson of the Delhi Waqf Board.
The ED has informed the trial court that a supplementary charge sheet will be filed against Khan, detailing the allegations and evidence. The case involves two separate FIRs: one by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) concerning irregularities in appointments at the Delhi Waqf Board, and another by the Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) related to disproportionate assets.
Doubts Revealed
Delhi High Court -: The Delhi High Court is a big building where judges work. They make important decisions about laws and people’s rights in Delhi.
ED -: ED stands for Directorate of Enforcement. It is a government agency that looks into financial crimes like money laundering.
Amanatullah Khan -: Amanatullah Khan is a person who works as an MLA, which means Member of Legislative Assembly, representing the Okhla area in Delhi.
Money Laundering -: Money laundering is when people try to hide where their money really came from, usually because it was earned in illegal ways.
Fundamental Rights -: Fundamental rights are basic freedoms that every person in India has, like the right to speak freely and the right to be treated fairly.
Politically Motivated -: Politically motivated means doing something for political reasons, like trying to harm someone’s reputation because they belong to a different political party.
Delhi Waqf Board -: The Delhi Waqf Board is a group that manages properties and funds for the welfare of the Muslim community in Delhi.
Plea -: A plea is a request made to a court asking for a specific decision or action.
Hearing -: A hearing is a meeting in a court where people talk about the case and the judge listens to both sides before making a decision.