NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have launched a search operation to trace Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan after he was booked for allegedly leading an attack on a police team and threatening officers in Jamia Nagar.
An FIR has been registered against Khan for allegedly obstructing the police from carrying out their duty, manhandling officers and facilitating the escape of an accused.
The case includes charges under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), including 221, 121(1), 132, 191(2), 190, 263(b), 351(3), and 111.
MLA allegedly rescued accused
The incident took place on February 10 around 3 pm, when a Crime Branch team arrived at Jogabai Extension in Jamia Nagar to arrest Shavez Khan, an accused in a 2018 attempted murder case.
As police questioned Shavez, Amanatullah Khan reportedly arrived with 20-25 supporters and confronted the officers.
According to the FIR, Khan and his supporters not only threatened the police but also declared that they “don’t value courts” or law enforcement. The situation escalated as they allegedly pushed and shoved the police team before taking Shavez Khan away.
Khan has been missing since the altercation, and police are actively trying to track him down for questioning.
Police conduct raids
The Delhi police on Wednesday conducted raids in national capital, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan to arrest AAP leader Amanatullah Khan.
On Monday, a team of police officials visited Khan’s residence in connection with the case.
DCP South East Delhi Ravi Kumar Singh confirmed that both Amanatullah Khan and Shavez Khan remain untraceable.
“A team of Crime Branch had come to nab a proclaimed offender, Shavez Khan. While he was being questioned, Amanatullah Khan came here along with his supporters and freed him. He (Shavez Khan) has been absconding since then. We are undertaking legal proceedings. All necessary legal actions will be taken. Efforts are being made to establish contact with him (Amanatullah Khan), it is yet to go through. The investigation is underway,” he told ANI.
Writes to Delhi Police Commissioner
AAP leader & MLA Amanatullah Khan on Wednesday wrote to the Delhi Police commissioner after an FIR has been registered against him for allegedly leading an attack on a police team in Delhi’s Jamia Nagar.
According to AAP, Amanatullah Khan wrote, “I am in my assembly constituency, I have not fled anywhere. Some people from Delhi Police are implicating me in a false case. “
“The person whom Delhi Police had come to arrest has already got bail. When the person showed his papers, the police are implicating me in a false case to hide their mistake,” he said further.
AAP MLA on the run amid party’s electoral setback
Amanatullah Khan, the Okhla MLA, recently retained his seat with a significant margin of 23,639 votes.
However, his party, AAP, faced a major electoral setback, securing only 22 seats in the Delhi assembly—a sharp decline from its previous tally of 62.
The police investigation is ongoing, with efforts underway to locate both Khan and Shavez Khan