The party claimed that the Enforcement Directorate has detained an AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan less than a month after arresting Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the liquor policy case. Amanatulah Khan, in connection with alleged irregularities at the Delhi Waqf Board.

Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh visited Okhla MLA’s residence, with the party’s Delhi unit posting on Admi Party”.

Mr Khan served as chairman of the waqf board between 2018 and 2022, and the Enforcement Directorate, which is probing the money laundering angle of the case, claimed that the Ministry of Justice made “huge proceeds of crime” through illegal recruitment of staff in the waqf. Board of Directors, which manages the properties of waqfs.

The ED claims he used the money to purchase assets in the names of colleagues. Mr Khan has denied any wrongdoing and said all rules were followed.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to grant anticipatory bail to an AAP MLA and asked him to attend the inquiry today. The bench, however, warned the education ministry against “unnecessary exercise” of arrest powers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

“If there is material, you arrest him. If there is no material, do not arrest him. You have to comply with Section 19 of the PMLA. The right to arrest should not be taken for granted,” the bench said.

The education ministry registered a money laundering case against Mr Khan based on a first information report registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation and three complaints by the Delhi Police. It has been raising an MLA inquiry at its Delhi office since this morning.

In a message posted on “They tried to make me resign. They wanted me to leave Arvind Kejriwal and testify against him. Because I failed to do so, they arrested me. I want to assure the people of Okhla that despite my arrest, we Will continue to work for the region as we have done so far.”

“No matter how long they put me in jail or torture me, I will never give in. I was with Arvind Kejriwal and will continue to be with him. During my tenure on the Waqf Board, I helped all those affected by the Delhi riots (2020) irrespective of their religion,” he added.

“Trying to undermine the party”

Speaking to reporters after meeting Mr Khan’s family, Sanjay Singh, who is out on bail in the liquor policy case, accused the BJP of targeting different AAP leaders.

“AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, who was elected chief minister three times, has been in jail and was not given medication despite being a diabetic. Former deputy chief minister Manish Siso Manish Sisodia was in jail, (former health minister) Satyendar Jain was in jail, and I was in jail for six months. Now they are planning to arrest Amanatullah. Khan, the entire party is with Mr Khan and his family… These are attempts to undermine the party and ensure the fall of the government in Delhi,” said.

Ms Atish said the case against Mr Khan was fabricated and the Education Department had no evidence, documents or proceeds of crime. “This is a political conspiracy against AAP and leaders of other parties including Arvind Kejriwal were arrested. I want to tell the BJP that the people of Delhi will stand with AAP and vote for it even if they arrest every minister , party leaders and workers.”

(Based on input from each agency)