Delhi Police Intensifies Search for AAP's Amanatullah Khan Amid Allegations of Obstruction

Delhi Police have initiated a search for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Amanatullah Khan, following allegations of his involvement in obstructing a police operation in the Jamia Nagar area. The incident in question occurred on February 10, 2025, when a team from the Crime Branch was in the Jogabai Extension vicinity, aiming to apprehend Shavez Khan, a proclaimed offender linked to a 2018 attempted murder case. During their operation, it is alleged that Amanatullah Khan, accompanied by approximately 20 to 25 supporters, confronted the officers, challenged their authority, and facilitated Shavez Khan's escape. The First Information Report (FIR) lodged against Khan and his associates cites multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to obstructing public servants, rioting, unlawful assembly, and criminal intimidation. In response to these allegations, Amanatullah Khan has firmly denied any wrongdoing. He addressed a letter to the Delhi Police Commissioner, asserting that he is not evading law enforcement and is present within his assembly constituency. Khan emphasized that the individual the police intended to arrest, Shavez Khan, is currently out on bail, suggesting that the police's actions against him are unfounded. He stated, "I am in my Assembly constituency, I am not in hiding. The person whom the Delhi Police came to arrest is out on bail. The police is implicating me in this false case to hide their mistake." Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East Delhi), Ravi Kumar Singh, has confirmed ongoing efforts to locate both Amanatullah Khan and Shavez Khan. He remarked, "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." This incident adds to a series of legal challenges faced by Amanatullah Khan. In September 2022, he was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) concerning alleged irregularities in the Delhi Waqf Board, where he served as chairman. The allegations encompassed unauthorized appointments and financial mismanagement. Following his arrest, searches conducted at premises linked to Khan reportedly led to the recovery of unlicensed firearms and substantial cash amounts. Khan was subsequently granted bail in this case. Earlier, in July 2016, Khan faced arrest following accusations of threatening a woman who had approached his residence to discuss issues related to power outages. The complainant alleged that she was intimidated by individuals at Khan's behest. Khan was later released on bail, with the court instructing him not to contact or intimidate the complainant and to refrain from inciting his supporters to engage in unlawful activities. In light of the current situation, the Delhi Police are intensifying their efforts to apprehend Amanatullah Khan. The case continues to develop, with both legal proceedings and political implications being closely monitored.