AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan arrested by ED

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA

Amanatullah Khan

has been arrested by the

Enforcement Directorate

(ED) in connection with a

money laundering

case linked to the

Waqf Board

. Khan, who represents the

Okhla constituency

in the Delhi Legislative Assembly, was taken into custody by the

ED

for questioning regarding alleged financial irregularities.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh condemned the arrest, accusing the central government of orchestrating a conspiracy to destabilize the Delhi government.

Speaking to reporters, Singh said, "Your dictatorship will end soon. This matter has been going on since 2016... Even the court told ED that it has no proof against Amanatullah Khan, despite this, he is being arrested... This conspiracy has been created to dismantle the Delhi government and break the party... AAP stands with Amanatullah Khan and his family."

AAP leader Atishi also expressed her views on the arrest, saying, "We have heard that AAP leader Amanatullah Khan has been arrested. This is an absolutely false case. ED has no proof or proceeds of crime. This is just another conspiracy against the AAP... I want to tell BJP and their leader PM Narendra Modi that even if they arrest each and every member of the AAP, the people of Delhi will still stand with Arvind Kejriwal and vote for him."

Earlier in the day, Khan appeared before the ED for questioning, following the Supreme Court's refusal to entertain his anticipatory bail application last week. The apex court directed him to join the investigation on April 18.

Speaking to reporters before his deposition, Khan maintained his innocence, saying that he had not committed any wrongdoing.

The money laundering case against Khan originates from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR and three Delhi Police complaints. The ED, which had conducted raids on the legislator's premises, alleges that Khan acquired "huge proceeds of crime" in cash through illegal recruitment of staff in the Delhi Waqf Board and invested those funds to purchase immovable assets in the name of his associates.
(More details awaited)