In a significant development, the Delhi High Court has denied bail to two individuals, Zeeshan Haider and Daud Nasir, connected to a money laundering case that implicates AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan. The case concerns alleged malpractices in recruitment at the Delhi Waqf Board.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, presiding over the matter, rejected the bail applications of Haider and Nasir. The judge cited “sufficient material” indicative of serious offenses under the anti-money laundering statutes, which preclude the possibility of bail under these circumstances.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which made the arrests in November 2023, has implicated the accused in a scheme to launder money through the purchase of immovable properties. According to the court’s findings, Khan allegedly used his associates to conduct transactions underreported in value and partially obscured through cash payments to sellers.
Justice Sharma’s detailed order, issued on July 1, outlines the alleged criminal network operated by Khan. It states, “Amanatullah Khan, along with his close associates, including the accused, engaged in a conspiracy to launder proceeds of crime through investments in real estate.”
The transactions under scrutiny involve a combination of cash and bank transfers amounting to about Rs 36 crore. The court emphasized the substantial evidence against Haider and Nasir, which solidifies their involvement in the money laundering operations and their connection to Khan.
This case against Khan originates from a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR and multiple complaints by the Delhi Police, pinpointing an illicit recruitment strategy at the Waqf Board. The ED’s prosecution complaint lists five individuals, including three of Khan’s alleged associates—Haider, Nasir, and Jawed Imam Siddiqui.
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Earlier actions by the ED included raids on properties linked to the MLA, which allegedly unveiled extensive proceeds from crime accrued through unauthorized recruitment activities and exploitative property leases during Khan’s tenure as chairperson of the Waqf Board from 2018 to 2022.
