A Delhi court on Thursday granted interim protection from arrest to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Amanatullah Khan in a case where he is accused of obstructing police officers attempting to arrest a proclaimed offender in southeast Delhi’s Jamia Nagar.
Special Judge Jitendra Singh of Rouse Avenue Court ruled that Khan cannot be arrested until February 24, the next date of hearing. The judge also directed that his questioning at Jamia Nagar Police Station be conducted under CCTV surveillance.
Khan Appears for Questioning
In response to a police notice, Khan appeared at the police station between 5 PM and 5:30 PM on Thursday and was questioned for nearly two-and-a-half hours before leaving around 8:30 PM. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Ravi Singh confirmed his presence at the station.
A police officer stated that Khan was questioned regarding the whereabouts of the proclaimed offender he allegedly helped escape, who remains absconding.
Case Against Khan
On Monday, the Delhi Police booked Khan and his supporters under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including charges related to obstructing public servants, unlawful assembly, and rioting.
According to the police, on February 10, Khan allegedly led a mob of 20-25 people to attack and threaten Crime Branch officers who were attempting to arrest Shahbaz Khan, wanted in a 2018 attempt-to-murder and Arms Act case. Police claim Khan facilitated Shahbaz’s escape.
Court Questions Legality of Raid
During the hearing, Judge Jitendra Singh questioned the legality of the police raid, noting that Shahbaz Khan had been granted anticipatory bail by the Saket Court on July 30, 2018.
“If he (Shahbaz Khan) had already been granted anticipatory bail, was the police discharging its official duty while going to arrest him?” the judge asked.
The prosecution argued that despite the anticipatory bail, Shahbaz Khan remains a proclaimed offender, and Amanatullah Khan’s custodial interrogation is necessary for further investigation.
Lack of CCTV Footage Raises Questions
The court sought CCTV footage of the alleged obstruction during the raid. However, Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava stated that no footage was available due to a power outage outside Shahbaz’s house at the time of the incident.
The judge expressed skepticism, asking why no mobile recordings were taken during the police operation. The court also noted that the allegation against Khan—of facilitating Shahbaz’s escape—was weak since Shahbaz had already secured anticipatory bail in the case for which he was allegedly being arrested.
Next Steps in the Case
The court has adjourned the matter and directed the prosecution to submit relevant documents and any available footage at the next hearing on February 24.
Sources By Agencies