Fresh trouble mounts for Okhla AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, as a Delhi court on Monday framed charges of corruption and criminal conspiracy against him and 10 others in a case involving alleged irregularities in recruitment to the Delhi Waqf Board.
The order was passed by Special Judge (PC Act) Dig Vinay Singh at the Rouse Avenue Courts.
A detailed copy of the judgement is awaited.
Besides Amanatullah, Mahboob Alam, Hamid Akhtar, Kifayatullah Khan, Rafisshan Khan, Imran Ali, Md Ahrar, Aquib Jawed, Azhar Khan, Zakir Khan, and Abudul Mannar have also been charged in the case, according to a report by Bar And Bench.
Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court frames charges against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and 10 other accused persons in a case related to alleged irregularities in the appointment of CEO and other employees, posted news agency ANI on X. The court has framed charges Amanatullah Khan and Mehboob Alam for the offences of conspiracy and corruption. The other nine accused have been charged for the offence of conspiracy, it said.
Delhi Waqf Board case | Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court frames charges against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and 10 other accused persons in a case related to alleged irregularities in the appointment of CEO and other employees.
The court has framed charges Amanatullah Khan and Mehboob…
— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2025
The CBI has alleged that Amanatullah Khan, during his tenure as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board from 2016 to 2021, abused his official position to make a series of illegal appointments, including that of Mahboob Alam as the Board’s CEO.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also probing the money laundering angle in the case.
Amanatullah Khan could not be reached for comment. He currently serves as the MLA from Okhla and has retained the seat for three consecutive terms on an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ticket, cementing his influence in the constituency. However, his party recently suffered a major setback in the Delhi Assembly elections, losing to the BJP. In a significant blow, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal himself failed to retain his MLA seat, marking a turning point in the party’s political fortunes.
The development follows the recent filing of a supplementary chargesheet by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), naming Amanatullah Khan as the prime accused in the case. Earlier, in February, a Delhi court had granted him anticipatory bail in an ‘obstruction of arrest’ case, upon furnishing a bond of ₹25,000 along with one surety of the same amount.
Following his arrest in September 2024, Amanatullah who was then escorted out of his house by police personnel and ED sleuths had said: “I am innocent.”
On November 14, 2024, Delhi court had granted bail to him in Waqf Board case.
Today's update on the case
“Promoting the interest of near & dear ones, nepotism, as revealed from the facts of this case, is also a form of corruption,” Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of Rouse Avenue Courts said.
“Promoting the interest of near & dear ones, nepotism, as revealed from the facts of this case, is also a form of corruption,” Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of Rouse Avenue Courts said.
“The discussion as above, prima facie strongly indicates that most of the appointments were given to the near & dear ones of A-1 (Khan). Thus, it cannot be claimed by A-1 that he did not abuse his position to obtain pecuniary advantages for other persons, i.e., the persons so appointed, or that prima facie there was no dishonest intention. So cannot A-2,” the court said, reported livelaw.in.
The chargesheet was filed by CBI in August 2022 for commission of offence of criminal conspiracy under section 120B of IPC read with sections 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The CBI alleged that a loss of Rs. 27,20,494 was caused to the Government exchequer in the form of salaries or other emoluments, which was paid to the employees. However, none of the accused persons was arrested by the probe agency during investigation.
Fifty-one-year-old Amanatullah Khan’s political journey has been anything but smooth marked by turbulence, betrayals, comebacks, and a relentless drive to hold on to the reins of power in one of Delhi’s most politically volatile constituencies, Okhla. Since wresting the seat from the Congress in what was once considered its unshakable stronghold, Amanatullah has charted an unconventional course, rising through the ranks of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a combative and often controversial figure.
His biggest litmus test, however, came in the most recent Assembly election in 2025 a high-stakes contest that pitted him not only against growing anti-incumbency but also against former allies turned rivals within his own party.
Several close aides who had once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him distanced themselves in the run-up to the polls, with some even vying for the AAP ticket themselves. The internal dissent could have fractured his electoral machinery. But Amanatullah, known for his political resilience and grassroots clout, emerged as the chosen candidate once again, retaining the party’s trust amid whispers of factionalism. Since 2015 he has been the shining armour of AAP in Okhla.
The real challenge in 2025, however, came from outside. In a dramatic shift, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), led by Asaduddin Owaisi, entered Okhla’s political battlefield. Backed by a full-throttle campaign led by AIMIM’s top brass, including firebrand speakers and seasoned strategists, the party aimed to make a dent in AAP’s minority vote bank, something no other party had successfully done before.
The contest quickly escalated into a war of words and ideologies. Owaisi launched scathing attacks on Amanatullah, questioning his credibility and performance. But Amanatullah hit back with equal intensity, leaving no stone unturned to counter Owaisi’s challenge and reaffirm his hold over the constituency. The electoral battle became deeply personal, often spilling over into public spats, fiery speeches, and community-level mobilisations.
A political observer said: “It was Amanatullah Khan’s sheer willpower, strategic clarity, and an intimate understanding of his constituency that helped him survive the AIMIM wave. While others buckled under pressure or fractured internally, Amanatullah stood firm even aggressive cementing his image as a street-smart politician who thrives in adversity.”
In the end, despite the odds stacked against him and a campaign that many believed had the potential to unseat him, Amanatullah Khan retained his Okhla seat. For now, he has once again proven that he remains an indomitable force in local politics one who cannot be written off, not even by political tsunamis. However, according to observers, it would be interesting to see how weather this new development.
However, according to political observers, it remains to be seen how Amanatullah Khan navigates the mounting legal cases alongside growing public discontent. Residents are increasingly vocal in demanding that he deliver on his long-standing electoral promises commitments that, they argue, have yet to translate into visible improvements on the ground. Despite holding the Okhla seat for more than a decade, the constituency continues to suffer from chronic civic neglect.
Basic infrastructure remains in a state of disrepair. Proper drainage, efficient waste management, and well-maintained roads are still missing from many areas. Entire stretches of road have been left dug-up for over six months, paralysing mobility and disrupting daily life.
The situation worsens drastically during the monsoon season. Waterlogging, overflowing drains, and piles of unattended garbage become everyday sights. Half-dug roads turn into hazardous trenches filled with stagnant water, creating breeding grounds for disease and increasing the risk of accidents. For pedestrians, motorists, and especially local shopkeepers, the conditions are nothing short of miserable.
Frustration is mounting. Residents point out that while political announcements and photo-ops are frequent, actual progress on the ground is slow or non-existent. “We don’t want promises, we want results,” said Sultan Ahmed, a Shaheen Bagh-based trader who has seen his business suffer due to the prolonged state of disrepair.
As public patience wears thin, the coming months could be a crucial test of Khan’s ability to convert rhetoric into results and restore faith among his constituents.
