The Delhi High Court is poised to deliver its verdict on the anticipatory bail application filed by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanat Ullah Khan in connection with the alleged Delhi Waqf Board Money Laundering case. The judgment is scheduled to be pronounced on March 11, following the dismissal of Khan’s earlier bail plea by the trial court.
The bench, presided over by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, heard extensive arguments from both sides on March 4 before reserving its decision. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal and advocate Rajat Bhardwaj represented Amanat Ullah Khan, while advocate Zoheb Hossain appeared on behalf of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case.
According to the petitioner’s lawyers, applicant Amanat Ullah Khan is not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing or any violation of the provisions of the PMLA in any manner. His life and liberty must be protected from unwarranted and unjustified encroachment at the hands of the respondent on the basis of a false, malicious and motivated case without any merit.
Lawyers allege that the applicant is being targeted by the investigating agency by alleging baseless and frivolous allegations against the applicant. ED has implicated the accused in a false and concocted story and no case is made out against the applicant. There are reasonable grounds believing that the applicant is innocent and has no involvement whatsoever in the alleged offence.
There is no bribe amount involved, therefore there is no generation of proceeds of crime, which leaves no scope of Applicant’s involvement in any activity of placement, layering, and/or integration of any proceeds of crime and as such, there is no question of any violation of the provisions of the PMLA, argued Amanat’s lawyers.
On the other hand, it was submitted by the ED’s counsel that the petitioner has been issued several summons and he has been evading the same. The Rouse Avenue court on March 1 dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of AAP MLA Amanat Ullah Khan.
According to the ED, the case is related to the purchase of a property worth Rs 36 crore in the Okhla area on the alleged behest of Amanat Ullah Khan, who is also sitting MLA from that area. In this case, the court has dismissed the bail application of three accused, namely Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir and Jawed Imam Siddiqui.
A charge sheet was recently filed by the ED against four accused persons, including Qausar Imam Siddiqui. It has been alleged that Rs 100 crore Waqf Properties were given on lease illegally. It is also alleged that 32 contractual employees were appointed in Delhi Waqf Board during the chairmanship of Amanat Ullah Khan, flouting the rules. (ANI)
