The ED registered the money laundering case against Khan and others based on 58 FIRs filed by the Uttar Pradesh police against him and his alleged associates
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday began questioning arrested Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan at its headquarters in Delhi in connection with a money laundering case.
Khan, a former Uttar Pradesh minister, was remanded to four days of ED custody by a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ghaziabad on Thursday.
The central agency arrested the 78-year-old leader outside Rampur jail in Uttar Pradesh on October 31. He was subsequently lodged in Dasna jail in Ghaziabad.
Officials said a team from the ED's Lucknow zonal office was questioning Khan and recording his statement at the agency's Delhi headquarters. He was not taken to Lucknow because of his age and related medical issues, they said.
The ED registered the money laundering case against Khan and others based on 58 FIRs filed by the Uttar Pradesh police against him and his alleged associates.
The agency alleged that government funds meant for public works were diverted for the construction of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, promoted by Khan. It accused Khan of misusing his influence as urban development minister and his position in relation to the UP Jal Nigam to facilitate the alleged irregularities.
In July, the Rampur Development Authority ordered the demolition of 38 buildings on the university campus, prompting the university to file an appeal.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP government of pursuing a political vendetta against his former Cabinet colleague and alleged that false cases had been registered against him.
The ED conducted raids in the case in August and also questioned Khan. The agency recently attached the university's land and buildings under the PMLA, valuing the assets at ₹1,170 crore.
Following his arrest, Khan approached the Supreme Court seeking bail. The apex court declined to entertain his plea and transferred it to the Allahabad High Court, requesting its Chief Justice to list the matter before a division bench on November 16.
