NEW DELHI – The Aam Admi Party (AAP) on Monday termed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at party MLA Amanatullah Khan’s residence as a witch-hunt by the Centre to ‘harass’ its leaders.
“This is the only work left for the ED: to suppress every voice raised against the BJP. Break it. Arrest and imprison those who do not break or surrender,” AAP leader Manish Sisodia said taking to microblogging site X.
AAP MP Sanjay Singh, sharing a video message on X, said: “This is occurring at a time when Khan’s mother-in-law recently underwent cancer surgery, a fact known to the ED. Amanatullah Khan’s lawyer had already requested additional time due to this circumstance. Back in 2016, the CBI launched an investigation but concluded after six years that Amanatullah Khan had not accepted bribes and cleared him of any wrongdoing. Both the ACB and ED conducted their own investigations; the ACB arrested him, but after he was granted bail, they found no evidence of bribery. The ED also interrogated him extensively.”
“Today’s raid is tied to the 2016 case, despite the fact that two agencies had already exonerated him. It is disgraceful that raids are continuing even after his acquittal. It seems these agencies are being used as instruments of the government. I want to assure the government that we will continue to fight this and we will prevail,” Singh added.
The Enforcement Directorate team arrested Khan following raids at his home, in connection with alleged irregularities in appointments to the Delhi Waqf Board and leasing of its properties.
The BJP stepped up its offensive on the Arvind Kejriwal government.
Vijender Gupta, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Delhi Assembly, lashed out at Khan claiming that he is an ‘anti-social element and is known for corruption.’
“He has made irregularities in the salary of imams worth Rs 19 crore, illegally made and sold shops in the MCD schools which were properties of Waqf Board and earned more than lakhs-crores,” Gupta said posting a video on microblogging site X.
“Four out of seven members of the Waqf Board members complained against Amanatullah Khan, he had given jobs to more than 262 people illegally. Now, ED has taken action on the order of the High Court. He was previously arrested by ACB and sent to jail for 11 days,” he added.
Apart from LoP, several Delhi BJP leaders also reacted to the ED raid.
Delhi BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj called it a justified step.
“AAP is busy in doing publicity, and corruption. They are not doing anything for the people of Delhi and are trying to fill their pockets. I want to say that no one is above the law and whatever ED has done is a correct and justified step against him,” she asserted.
BJP MP Yogender Chandolia also attacked AAP leaders and said when they come under the eye of ED, they start shouting. Amanatullah Khan has many Waqf Board cases against him when the ED is doing the investigation, they are shouting.”
Union Minister Giriraj Singh said the Aam Aadmi Party is a party of criminals. No one is above the law and if there is any charge against Amanatullah, then the courts will give a verdict on it. – IANS
