ED conducts fresh searches in money laundering case against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday undertook fresh searches at about four-five premises in the national capital as part of a money laundering probe against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan linked to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of staff for the Delhi Waqf Board, official sources said.

The raids are being carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said.

About four-five premises are being covered by the ED officials, they said.

The agency had in October raided the premises of the 49-year-old legislator who represents the Okhla constituency in the Delhi assembly. It had also arrested three of his alleged associates in this case in November.

The ED had alleged that Khan acquired "huge proceeds of crime" in cash from the illegal recruitment of staff in the Delhi Waqf Board and invested these for purchasing immovable assets in the name 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.

It said a CBI FIR and three Delhi Police complaints formed the basis of the ED action against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA.

Khan, the ED said, "acquired huge proceeds of crime out of the said criminal activities in cash, and this cash amount was invested in the purchase of various immovable properties in Delhi in the name of his associates." Several "incriminating" materials in the form of physical and digital evidence were seized during the raids which "indicate" the role of Khan in the offence of money laundering, it said.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had alleged there was a campaign underway to end the AAP and asserted that false cases are being filed against party leaders.