Al-Falah University chief held after day-long ED raids

Days after three university doctors were allegedly found to be part of a "terror" module involved in the Red Fort blast, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday searched over two dozen premises linked to Al-Falah University, its trustees and associated entities.

Umar Un Nabi - the driver of the vehicle carrying the IED that exploded near the Red Fort on November 10 - was employed at Al-Falah University in Faridabad, Haryana, as an assistant professor in the general medicine department.

Later in the day, the agency arrested Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, Chairman of the Al-Falah group, following an analysis of evidence gathered during the searches, the ED said in a statement.


The probe is based on two FIRs filed by the Delhi Police Crime Branch alleging that Al-Falah University fraudulently claimed NAAC accreditation and misrepresented its UGC status to deceive students, parents and stakeholders for wrongful gain. According to the FIRs, the university falsely projected UGC recognition with the "oblique motive" to cheat aspirants and the general public.

The UGC has clarified that Al-Falah University is recognised only under Section 2(f) as a State Private University, has never applied for inclusion under Section 12(B).

On Tuesday, ED teams conducted searches at 19 locations in Delhi, including the university campus and residences of key members of the Al-Falah group. The agency said it has found evidence of "large amounts" of proceeds of crime.

"Evidence reveals that crores of rupees were diverted by the trust to family-owned entities. For example, construction and catering contracts were given by the trust/Jawad Ahmad to entities owned by his wife and children. During the searches, cash of over ₹48 lakh, multiple digital devices and documentary records were seized. Multiple shell companies of the group have been identified...," the ED statement said.