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NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has refused to stay, for now, summons issued to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly illegally recruiting 32 people in the Delhi Waqf Board for illegal gains.
AAPs MLA from Okhla constituency, Khan faces allegations of hiring people in violation of norms and government guidelines and charges of money laundering in the matter, during his tenure as Chairman, Delhi Waqf Board.
A bench of Justices Rekha Palli and Rajnish Bhatnagar further refrained from issuing notice or granting any interim order on Khans plea challenging the summons and FIR on him.
As the counsel appearing for the AAP MLA was not available today, the matter was adjourned at his request to February 02.
Yesterday, noting that the summons was served a week ago, the bench had told the senior counsel appearing for Khan, You can go for a day. (Or) Send whatever reply. We will take it up (on another date).
However, he had argued that the petitioner apprehended invasion of his liberty if he appeared before the agency.
Besides seeking quashing of the summons, and FIR on Khan, the plea also challenges the constitutional validity of certain provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
A division bench comprising Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain had recused itself from hearing the matter originally, after which it was posted before the present bench.
ED had earlier conducted raids on Khans property.
He faces allegations of acquiring large amounts of illegal proceeds of crime in cash and re-investing the same to purchase immovable assets in the name of his associates.
Recently, the ED has filed a charge sheet in the matter against five entities, including three alleged associates of Khan - Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir and Jawed Imam Siddiqui.
The three were arrested by ED in November 2023.
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