MLA Amanatullah Khan arrested in Delhi Waqf Board graft case.
After hours-long questioning of Khan in connection with irregularities in the Delhi Waqf board, the MLA who is also chairman of Delhi Waqf Board, was arrested on Friday.
The development came a few minutes ago, according to media reports, after searches were held at Khan’s Batla House residence and his close associates in the locality.
Earlier, it was reported, the ACB had seized cash worth Rs 12 lakh, an unlicenced weapon and other documents during a raid at his aide and business partner Hamid Ali’s house, reported the HT.
The ACB on Friday conducted searches at Khan’s house and other premises linked to him and seized Rs 24 lakh as well as two unlicensed weapons, the officials said, reported the PTI in latest update.
Searchers were conducted at four locations in Delhi, including at Batla House, Zakir Nagar and Jamia Nagar in connection with the case.
Khan had shared a video clip of the raid at his house on his social media account. And a day ago on Thursday, he had tweeted about a notice he had received from the ACB, in which he had written in Hindi that he had been summoned as he built a new Waqf board office.
The anti-corruption branch had earlier written to the Lieutenant Governor’s secretariat demanding that Khan be removed as the Delhi Waqf Board chairman for allegedly hampering a probe by “bullying” witnesses in a case against him, reported the HT.
“From these locations, around Rs 24 lakh in cash has been recovered and two illegal and unlicenced weapons and cartridges and ammunition was also recovered. Also, at one of the location i.e. outside the residence of Amanatullah Khan, the search team consisting of an ACP was attacked by the relatives and other known persons of Amanatullah Khan and they also caused obstruction in discharge of government duty,” the statement said, reported the IE.
The ACB then registered two more FIRs, one regarding the recovery of illegal weapons, and the second for the alleged attack on the officers.
The weapons were not recovered from Khan’s house or office, officials said, reported the IE.
In a video posted on social media, Shafia Khan, the wife of Khan, claimed police officials did not find any incriminatory material during a search of their house. “…The media, which is said to be fourth pillar of democracy, is misleading people by showing incorrect news,” she tweeted.
The OT does not vouch for the authenticity of the video.
Commenting Khan’s arrest, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tweeted: “First, they arrested Satyendar Jain but there is no evidence against him in court. They raided my residence. Nothing was found. Then they initiated a fake probe against Kailash Gahlot, and now they arrested Amanatullah Khan. Operation Lotus continues to break each leader of AAP.”
