Anticipatory bail has been refused to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Amanatullah Khan by the Supreme Court today, in connection with a money laundering case related to irregularities in recruitment at the Delhi Waqf Board and leasing of properties. 

The decision was delivered by a bench comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, accompanied by a cautionary note to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against arbitrary arrests under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

It was stressed by the apex court that Khan should not be arrested unless substantial evidence is presented against him. The ED's counsel was directed by the court to follow Section 19 PMLA and the earlier order regarding arrests, emphasizing that the right to arrest should not be taken for granted.

This decision follows the earlier denial of anticipatory bail to Khan by the Delhi High Court. The High Court had emphasized that legal proceedings apply to public figures like Khan, who cannot evade investigative summons. It noted that special treatment cannot be accorded to public figures who disregard such legal obligations.

Initially rejected by a trial court on March 1 and upheld by the Delhi High Court, Khan's subsequent appeal to the Supreme Court faced similar dismissal. The court declined to entertain the plea, reiterating the necessity for him to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.

The allegations against Khan stem from his tenure as the Chairman of the Waqf Board, where he is accused of illicitly recruiting individuals in contravention of established laws. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) initiated proceedings against him, subsequently followed by the ED's involvement in the case.

Case: Amanatullah Khan vs. Directorate of Enforcement.