A Delhi court on Wednesday, 28 September, granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan, in a case related to the alleged irregularities in appointment, misappropriation of funds, and misuse of official position as the chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, reported news agency ANI.
Khan was arrested on 16 September. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Khan, while working as the chairman of the Board, illegally hired 32 people by flouting all the norms and government guidelines, reported Moneycontrol.
The then CEO of the Delhi Waqf Board had clearly given a statement and issued a memorandum against such illegal hiring, it said.
It was alleged that Khan, as the chairman, also rented out several properties of the Waqf Board illegally amid allegations of corruption and favouritism.
The FIR also alleged that Khan misused funds of the Waqf Board comprising grants-in-aid from the Delhi government.
On Monday, 26 September, the court had sent Khan to 14 days of judicial custody.
Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, appearing for Khan, said that no rules were broken and the allegations were at best a procedural lapse, attracting departmental proceedings.
Prosecution Says 'Khan Cherry-Picked for Reasons of Their Choice'
The counsel added that all requirements to attract section 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant, or by a banker, merchant or agent, etc) of the Indian Penal Code were missing and the prosecution had “cherry-picked the chairman of the Waqf Board (Khan) for reasons of their choice", according to Hindustan Times.
Mehra further added that there was “absolutely no misappropriation of funds,” nor was there any prima facie evidence of any money having exchanged hands, adding that “every penny was tracked and accounted for.”
(With inputs from Hindustan Times and Moneycontrol.)
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