AAP Leader’s Residence Raided for Over Five Hours
NEW DELHI, Sept.2, 2024: Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials detained Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan at his Okhla residence today, following more than five hours raid. The operation, which began early this morning, saw a heavy police presence and sparked significant tension in the area.
The raid started around 7 a.m., as ED teams arrived at Khan’s residence to execute a search warrant in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering related to the Delhi Waqf Board. Khan, who was taken into custody, expressed his frustration and concerns about the timing and nature of the raid through social media.
In a video posted on X, Khan stated, “It is 7 a.m., and the ED team has come to my house to arrest me. My mother-in-law recently underwent surgery for cancer just four days ago, and yet they chose this moment to raid.” He further claimed that he and his party had been subjected to harassment for the past two years, asserting that “false cases” were being fabricated against him and his party.
ED की तानाशाही! pic.twitter.com/JgJgreIPfR
— Amanatullah Khan AAP (@KhanAmanatullah) September 2, 2024
दिल्ली में माहौल बिगाड़ने के लिए BJP का हथियार बनी हुई है ED❗️
🔷 आज जिस मामले में ED सुबह-सुबह मेरे घर पर धावा बोलने पहुंची, वह पूरा मामला ही फर्जी है pic.twitter.com/okiGGkcxc2
— Amanatullah Khan AAP (@KhanAmanatullah) September 2, 2024
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During the raid, Khan requested the presence of local police and his lawyer to oversee the investigation. He revealed that the authorities were probing a case registered by the CBI in 2016, which pertains to the purchase of 1,500 suits intended for the poor, with discrepancies noted in the records for 100 suits.
AAP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, condemned the raid, accusing the ED of acting under political pressure. Singh remarked on X, “The ruthlessness of the ED is evident. Despite my mother-in-law’s critical health condition, they chose to raid early in the morning. There is no evidence against Khan; this is a clear example of Modi’s dictatorship and ED’s bullying.” He also shared a video of Khan’s ailing mother-in-law, emphasizing the family’s distress.
In contrast, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva defended the raid, asserting that it was a necessary step in addressing corruption within the AAP. He stated, “There is a large group of criminals and corrupt individuals within the Aam Aadmi Party. The law is acting against those involved in corruption and embezzlement, and it is their own noise that they are making.”
The ongoing investigation and the high-profile nature of this case have drawn significant attention, highlighting the escalating tensions between opposition leaders and law enforcement in the country.