Delhi court issues non-bailable warrant against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, cancels it later
New Delhi, Dec 21: A Delhi court on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan for non-appearance in a criminal case related to alleged irregularities in the Waqf Board, but later withdrew it after the legislator turned up for the hearing along with his lawyer.
Special Judge M K Nagpal, while issuing the non-bailable warrants (NBW), noted that the counsel appearing for Khan moved an application seeking his exemption from personal appearance on medical grounds for the day but did not support it with any medical certificate.
"Even on the previous date, appearance of A-1 (Khan) was exempted on medical grounds. In view of the above, no reasonable or satisfactory ground has been made out for exempting the said accused from appearance today. Hence, the application for exemption is dismissed and NBWs against him through IO (investigating officer) are directed to be issued for next date of hearing," the judge said, and posted the matter for hearing on January 23.
The judge had earlier granted exemption from personal appearance to Khan on medical ground on last date of hearing on November 23.
However, Khan approached the court later during the day, sought cancellation of the NBWs and filed his medical certificate.
"The medical certificate of the accused for today has now been enclosed with the application and it is stated that the accused has also turned up for appearance before this court despite the fact that he is not well.
"It is stated the medical certificate could not be sent earlier to counsel representing the accused. Hence, in view of the submissions made, the application moved on behalf of A-1 (Khan) is allowed and his NBWs, which were directed to be issued in the morning, are hereby recalled," the judge said.
According to the FIR, Khan, while working as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, illegally recruited several people by violating norms and government guidelines.
The then CEO of Delhi Waqf Board had clearly given a statement and issued a memorandum against such illegal recruitment, the CBI had said.
Further, it was alleged that as chairman of the Delhi Waqf Board, Khan rented out several properties of the Waqf Board illegally amid allegations of corruption and favouritism, it had added.
The FIR also alleged that Khan misappropriated funds of the Waqf Board comprising grants-in-aid from the Delhi government.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Bridge portion collapses on Jammu outskirts; 3-4 labourers feared trapped, 1 rescued
Jammu (PTI): A portion of a small bridge collapsed in the Bantalab area on the outskirts of Jammu city on Friday, trapping at least three to four labourers under the debris, while one injured worker was rescued, official sources said.
Authorities have closed the road link following the collapse of the portion of the bridge.
The incident occurred when labourers were carrying out repair work on a retaining wall near the bridge that was damaged in last year's flash floods, the sources said.
According to the sources, a section of the bridge suddenly gave way, burying workers engaged at the site under the rubble.
Police, Army and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams launched rescue operations to extricate those buried under the debris. They pulled out one injured labourer and shifted him to a hospital, the sources said.
Family members of the labourers present at the site said around six workers engaged at the site at the time of the incident came under the debris when the structure collapsed. The family members said while two of the labourers managed to escape, four got trapped.
The sources said those trapped included the husband of a woman labourer, a mason, an unmarried labourer and a relative of the contractor.
There was no official confirmation on the exact number of persons trapped under the debris till the filing of this report.
The rescue operations are ongoing.
