4 arrested for obstructing ACB team at Amanatullah’s Batla House residence: Police
Four accused persons have been apprehended for obstructing the raiding party of ACB during the official discharge of their duty. Further investigation is in progress: Delhi Police, reported news agency ANI.
Shakeel Ahmad (45), Afsar (20), Anwar (31) and Sikander (45) were arrested on Saturday, they said, reported PTI.
On Friday, the ACB, which reports to the Delhi lieutenant governor, conducted raids at four premises in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitment in the Delhi Waqf Board and arrested Khan, also its chairman. On Saturday, Khan was sent to 4-day police custody.
Khan sent to 4-day police custody after agency claims he received Rs 4 crore, reported IE, adding that the MLA’s counsel responded to the claim: “This is a fishing and roving enquiry. How is this related to this case?”
Four accused persons have been apprehended for obstructing the raiding party of ACB during the official discharge of their duty. Further investigation is in progress: Delhi Police https://t.co/rmEM8iNzO3
— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2022
“We have registered a case for obstructing the ACB officials in discharging their duty and four persons have been arrested in this case. Further investigation is in progress,” a senior police officer said, reported the PTI.
A purported video of the incident is circulating on social media.
The Delhi Police has arrested Khan’s close aide Hamid after a raid by the ACB, officials said on Saturday. Ali, a resident of Jamia Nagar, has been arrested by the southeast district police under the Arms Act. The second case was registered against Kaushar Imam Siddique, a resident of Jogabai Extension, in Arms Act. A country-made pistol and three live rounds were recovered from his premises, the officer said, adding that efforts are being made to arrest him.
The ACB had issued a notice to Khan on Thursday for questioning in connection with the Prevention of Corruption Act case registered in 2020. The ACB said it seized Rs 24 lakh in cash, two unlicensed weapons and some cartridges during Friday’s raids.
Amanatullah’s wife tweeted a video claiming that nothing was recovered from the MLA’s house during raid. The AAP has come out in support of the Okhla MLA.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the arrest by the Anti-Corruption Bureau is part of a series of attacks on party MLAs. “They first arrested Satyendar Jain. They are not able to provide any proof despite the court asking repeatedly. Then they raided Manish’s (Deputy CM Manish Sisodia) house. They did not find anything. Now they have arrested Amanatullah. Many others will be arrested. It seems they are facing a lot of problems in Gujarat,” he tweeted.
“AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan has been arrested in a fake and completely baseless case. Nothing was recovered from either his residence or office,” the party said in statement.
As alleged in the FIR, the ACB’s Friday statement said, Khan while working as chairman of Delhi Waqf Board illegally recruited 32 people violating all norms and government guidelines and amid allegations of corruption and favouritism.
“Further, it was alleged that as chairman of Delhi Waqf Board, Khan has rented out a number of properties of the Waqf Board illegally with allegations of corruption and favouritism. Further, it has been alleged that he has misappropriated the funds of the Waqf Board comprising grants in aid from Delhi government,” Additional Commissioner of Police, who heads the ACB, Madhur Verma said.
