In a significant development on Monday morning, a team from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a raid at the residence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan. The raid is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of money laundering and financial misconduct against Amanatullah Khan, who has been under scrutiny for his role as the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board. The ED’s visit to Amanatullah Khan’s home in Okhla, which he represents in the Delhi Assembly, has sparked a political storm, with the AAP alleging that Amanatullah Khan’s arrest is imminent.
Amanatullah Khan, who has been vocal about the charges against him, took to social media platform X to announce the ED’s presence at his home. “ED people have just arrived at my house to arrest me,” he posted, indicating the gravity of the situation. As the ED officials combed through documents and other materials, a sizable force of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel was deployed outside his residence to maintain order and security.
The AAP MLA responded to the raid by releasing a video message accusing the central government of using investigative agencies to target him and other leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party. In his video, Amanatullah Khan said, “Just this morning, on the orders of the dictator, his puppet ED has reached my house. The dictator is leaving no stone unturned to harass me and AAP leaders. Is it a crime to serve the people honestly? How long will this dictatorship last?” His comments reflect the party’s narrative that the actions against him are politically motivated and designed to suppress dissent.
Prominent AAP leaders quickly came to Amanatullah Khan’s defense, condemning the ED’s actions and suggesting that Amanatullah Khan’s arrest was part of a broader political vendetta by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). AAP MP Sanjay Singh took to X to criticize the raid, pointing out that Amanatullah Khan had cooperated with the ED investigation and requested more time due to his personal circumstances, including his mother-in-law’s battle with cancer. Singh tweeted, “Look at the cruelty of ED @KhanAmanatullah first he joined the ED investigation, then asked for further time, his mother-in-law has cancer, she has undergone an operation, they reached the house early in the morning to raid. There is no evidence against @KhanAmanatullah but both Modi’s dictatorship and ED’s hooliganism continue.”
Former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who has himself faced legal battles, also voiced his support for Amanatullah Khan. Sisodia, recently released on bail in the liquor policy case, tweeted, “This is the only work left for ED. Suppress every voice raised against BJP. Break it. Arrest and put in jail those who do not break or get suppressed.” Sisodia’s remarks underline the AAP’s stance that the use of investigative agencies against their leaders is a tactic to silence opposition voices.
The Enforcement Directorate’s case against Amanatullah Khan centers on allegations that he was involved in illegal recruitment practices and misappropriated funds during his tenure as the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board from 2018 to 2022. The ED claims that Amanatullah Khan engaged in unfair leasing of Waqf Board properties, which resulted in financial gains that were allegedly laundered and used to acquire immovable assets under the names of his associates. The probe agency has previously interrogated Amanatullah Khan for over 12 hours regarding these allegations and maintains that he has acquired substantial “proceeds of crime” in cash through these activities.
Earlier this year, the legal troubles for Amanatullah Khan were compounded when the Delhi High Court refused to grant him anticipatory bail in March, citing his repeated evasion of summons from investigating agencies. The Supreme Court also declined to offer him protection from arrest, leaving Amanatullah Khan vulnerable to legal action as the investigation continues.
The recent raid by the ED and the potential arrest of Amanatullah Khan has intensified the ongoing political confrontation between the AAP and the BJP-led central government. As the investigation unfolds, the allegations against Amanatullah Khan are likely to play a significant role in the political discourse, with both parties leveraging the issue to their advantage.
