On Tuesday, Amanatullah Khan, an MLA from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), filed a petition in the Delhi High Court challenging the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate. The summons required his presence throughout the day in connection with a money laundering case.

Justice Rekha Palli, leading a bench, addressed the matter around 4 p.m. after a different bench recused itself. The bench scheduled the plea for further consideration on Thursday and abstained from issuing any orders at this stage.

The investigation into money laundering is connected to suspected irregularities in the recruitment process of the Delhi Waqf Board.

Noting that the summons was served a week ago, the bench said, "You can go for a day. (Or) Send whatever reply. We will take it up (on another date)," said the bench, also comprising Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar.

The senior counsel representing the AAP leader mentioned that the petition also contests the constitutional validity of specific provisions within the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The court noted that the case was presented in the post-lunch session following the recusal of another bench from the high court, consisting of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain, who declined to hear the matter earlier in the day.

The allegation suggests that Amanatullah Khan, during his tenure as the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, unlawfully appointed 32 individuals, thereby contravening established norms and government guidelines.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which previously carried out searches at the locations linked to the legislator representing the Okhla constituency in the Delhi Assembly, asserts that Amanatullah Khan obtained substantial proceeds of criminal activities in cash through the illicit hiring of personnel in the Delhi Waqf Board. The ED further alleges that he invested these funds to acquire immovable assets under the names of his associates.

In a recent development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet in the case against five entities, which includes three purported associates of Amanatullah Khan - Zeeshan Haider, Daud Nasir, and Jawed Imam Siddiqui. These individuals were apprehended by the central agency in November 2023.