In a significant development, a Delhi court on Friday granted an extension of three days to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for the custody of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, linked to a money laundering probe. The extension was sanctioned by Special Judge Vishal Gogne, who underscored the necessity for further investigation to confront the accused with co-accused and witnesses.
Judge Gogne, overseeing the case, responded to the ED’s application initially requesting an additional ten days of custody. He remarked on the complexities of the investigation, which involves multi-layered financial transactions allegedly designed to launder approximately Rs 36 crores through properties and frontmen connected to Khan.
“The investigation cannot be stalled due to the accused’s limited cooperation during the initial phase of the probe,” Judge Gogne stated. He highlighted that the review of case diaries indicated that Khan might need to be confronted with evidence gathered from approximately 48 individuals not included in the first prosecution complaint—the ED’s version of a charge sheet.
In his ruling, Judge Gogne deemed a ten-day extension excessive but acknowledged the necessity for continued ED custody to explore the intricate financial layers further. Khan is ordered to be produced before the court again on September 9.
The court also mandated stringent conditions for Khan’s custody, including medical examinations every 24 hours and the requirement that all interrogations be recorded under CCTV surveillance. These recordings are to be preserved for potential court review.
Amanatullah Khan was initially taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on September 2, following ED’s raid at his residence in the Okhla region of Delhi. During the court proceedings, the ED described Khan as evasive in his responses during the search, leading to his arrest.
