Career prospects of several students harmed: Al Falah University founder Jawad Ahmad sent to 13-day ED custody
Al Falah University founder Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Following his arrest, he was produced before a competent court for remand and sent to 13-day ED custody. The federal probe agency on Tuesday conducted a raid at an office of the Al Falah Trust in Okhla area of Delhi.
New Delhi: Al Falah University founder Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, arrested in connection with a money launder case linked to Red Fort car blast incident, has been sent to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till December 1. Siddiqui, who is chairman of the Al Falah group, was arrested by the ED on Tuesday after searches were conducted in Delhi-NCR against the trustees and promoters of Faridabad-based university linked to the Delhi blast case.
Siddiqui was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Following his arrest, he was produced before a competent court for remand and sent to 13-day ED custody. The federal probe agency on Tuesday conducted a raid at an office of the Al Falah Trust in Okhla area of Delhi.
Al Falah University under scanner
Located in the Dhouj area of Haryana's Faridabad district, Al Falah University is a medical college-cum-hospital. The ED found educational institutions (university and colleges) that were ultimately owned and financially consolidated under the Al Falah Trust, "effectively" controlled by Siddiqui.
Citing an FIR filed by Delhi Police in the Red Fort blast case, the ED alleged that Al-Falah University made fraudulent and misleading claims of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) accreditation with an intention to deceive students, parents and stakeholders for wrongful gain.
The police complaint also claimed that the Al Falah University falsely claimed UGC recognition under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956, with the oblique motive to cheat the aspirants, students, parents, guardians, stakeholders and general public to gain wrongfully and cause wrongful loss to them.
What ED said in remand note
The ED in its remand note said that the Al Falah University "harmed career prospects" of several students and affected their eligibility for higher education and government jobs.
"By allegedly fabricating and misrepresenting its NAAC accreditation status and falsely claiming UG recognition under, Al Falah University has not only violated regulatory norms but has also irreparably harmed the lives and career prospects of countless students who relied on these claims in good faith," the probe agency said.
"Students invest their most valuable and productive years-along with their families' hard-earned finances-based on the credibility and statutory recognition of an institution; when such recognition is false, the degrees they obtain suffer diminished value, affecting their eligibility for higher education, government jobs, research opportunities and professional advancement. This results in emotional distress, financial loss, wasted years of youth, and long-term setbacks in their academic and professional trajectories," it added.
Al Falah University admitted students showing false accreditation
The ED also said that the Faridabad university has continued to attract admissions and accumulate substantial monetary gains through alleged deceptive practices, enriching itself at the cost of students' "trust, future, and legitimate expectations".
According to the ED's remand note, the university earned approximately Rs 415.10 crore through false claims. The investigators also examined the university's Income Tax Returns, which revealed several shocking facts. In 2014-15 and 2015-16, Rs 30.89 crore and Rs 29.48 crore were shown as donations. Since 2016-17, the university began reporting its substantial income as academic income. In 2018-19, this income was Rs 24.21 crore and in 2024-25, it increased to Rs 80.01 crore.
Delhi blast
Delhi was rocked by a powerful blast on November 10 when a car exploded in the middle of a slow-moving traffic near Red Fort. The explosion killed 15 people and left several others injured. The probe into the incident by anti-terror probe agencies found involvement of a number of doctors linked to the university and in Kashmir.
The NIA, which is investigating the explosion incident, has so far arrested two persons, who are alleged close aides of "suicide bomber" Dr Umar Nabi. Nabi was driving the car that detonated near the iconic monument.