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Synopsis

Amanatullah Khan, an MLA from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), filed a petition before the Delhi High Court on Tuesday challenging the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons requiring his presence in connection with a money laundering case. The case is related to suspected irregularities in the recruitment process of the Delhi Waqf Board.

The bench of Justice Rekha Palli and Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar scheduled the hearing for Thursday and refrained from issuing any immediate orders.

The ED's investigation revolves around allegations of illegal recruitments during Khan's tenure as the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board.

The court emphasized that the summons had been delivered a week earlier, suggesting Khan comply with the requirement for a day or submit a response. Additionally, the AAP leader's senior counsel contested the constitutional validity of specific provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Expressing concerns about potential infringement on Khan's liberty, his legal representative argued against his appearance before the agency.

Earlier in the day, a different bench recused itself from the case, leading to its consideration by the bench headed by Justice Rekha Palli in the post-lunch session.

The ED has alleged that Amanatullah Khan, during his tenure, engaged in the unlawful recruitment of 32 individuals, violating established norms and government guidelines. The agency has further claimed that Khan utilized the "proceeds of crime" from these illegal recruitments to acquire assets in the name of associates.

Recently, the ED filed a charge sheet against five persons, including three associates of Khan—Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir, and Jawed Imam Siddiqui—who were arrested in November 2023 during raids on the legislator's premises.

Case Title: Amanatullah Khan v. Directorate of Enforcement