Al Falah University founder Jawad arrested after ED raids in Okhla
The founder of Al Falah University Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui was arrested on Tuesday by the the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Siddiqui, Chairman of Al Falah group, was arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Siddiqui has been chancellor of Al-Falah University in Faridabad since 2014.
The university was under scrutiny after the alleged involvement of three of its MBBS course professors in a terror module behind the i20 car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10. The blast killed at least 15 people and injured more than 20, and was later confirmed to be a terror attack. Earlier on the day of the attack, around 2,900 kg of IED-making material were seized from the rented premises of a doctor, Muzammil Shakeel, who worked at the university, claimed media reports.
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Another employee of Al-Falah, Dr Shaheen Shahid, who was tasked with setting up the JeM’s women’s wing in India, was also arrested after a rifle and live cartridges were recovered from her car. Following the arrests, Umar un Nabi, another doctor who worked at the university, carried out the blast. Two more doctors of Al-Falah and a cleric of the mosque inside the university premises were also detained over their links to Dr Umar.
The university’s links to the Delhi blast accused have prompted investigators to examine institutional records, financial transactions and administrative approvals.
ED launches multiple raids
The arrest came just hours after the ED launched multiple raids, with security stepped up in Okhla since morning, triggering panic in the locality. Word spread quickly after residents noticed a large presence of mainstream media journalists and police personnel. The raids had begun at around 5 am.
“The arrest took place today following a detailed investigation and analysis of evidences gathered during search action conducted at premises related to Al-Falah group in the ongoing probe in an ECIR recorded by the ED under PMLA in connection with the Al-Falah group,” a ED spokesperson said.
According to media reports, the ED raided Al-Falah University, its Okhla office, and premises linked to the university’s promoters after the initial probe revealed discrepancies in claims related to UGC and NAAC recognition. Raids were conducted at 25 locations across Delhi. Several firms connected to the group, all registered at the same address, have also come under scrutiny.
Tuesday’s action followed two FIRs registered by the Delhi Police Crime Branch alleging that Al-Falah University, Faridabad, fraudulently claimed NAAC accreditation with the intention to deceive students, parents, and other stakeholders for wrongful gain.
A senior ED official said Siddiqui, who has been managing trustee of the Al-Falah Charitable Trust since 1995, exercised complete control over the trust and its network of educational institutions.
“Despite the group’s rapid expansion since the late 1990s, investigators say its financials do not support such growth,” he said.
The ED official said evidence of fund layering, diversion and recovery of cash established Siddiqui’s culpability, leading to his arrest. “He was produced before a court to seek custodial remand. Further investigation is underway,” he added, reported the HT.
“Siddiqui in effectively controlling the trust and its activities, has been brought out by multiple pieces of evidence. Exhaustive evidence including recovery of cash from trustees’ diversion of funds to family concern, layering of funds etc. clearly establish the pattern of generation and layering of proceeds of crime. After establishing his culpability in the offence, he was arrested after following due legal procedure. He has been produced before the court for the purpose of seeking ED remand,” the spokesperson said.
“It has been also mentioned in FIR that Al-Falah University, Faridabad, has falsely claimed UGC recognition under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956 with oblique motive to cheat the aspirants, students, parents, guardians, stakeholders and general public to gain wrongfully and cause wrongful loss to them. The UGC clarified that Al-Falah University is included only under Section 2(f) as a State Private University, has never applied for inclusion under Section 12(B), and is not eligible for grants under that provision,” the spokesperson alleged.
According to the ED, Al-Falah Charitable Trust was constituted by a public charitable trust deed dated September 8, 1995, with Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui named as one of the first trustees and designated as the Managing Trustee. “All the educational institutions (university and colleges) are ultimately owned and financially consolidated under this trust, which is effectively controlled by Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui. The entire Al-Falah group has seen a meteoric rise since the 1990s metamorphosing into a large educational body. However, the rise is not backed by adequate financials,” the spokesperson said.
Siddiqui’s younger brother Hamood arrested from Hyderabad
On Monday, police served two summonses to Javed Ahmad Siddiqui in connection with the FIRs registered on the basis of a complaint filed by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Investigators said Siddiqui’s testimony is key to clarifying several inconsistencies surrounding the university’s functioning, its financial dealings, and the activities of individuals associated with it.
In a parallel development, Siddiqui’s younger brother, Hamood Ahmad Siddiqui, who serves as the university’s chancellor, was arrested in Hyderabad the same day in connection with a nearly 25-year-old fraud case registered in Madhya Pradesh, adding another dramatic layer to the unfolding saga.
Who is Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui?
Sixty-one-year-old Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui was born on November 15, 1964, as one of three sons of Hammad Ahmad Siddiqui. He grew up in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh, before moving to Delhi, where he joined Jamia Millia Islamia as a Mechanical Engineering lecturer in 1993.
According to his now inactive LinkedIn profile, Siddiqui completed his BTech in Industrial and Product Design from Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore. While teaching at Jamia, he experimented with entrepreneurship and, along with his brother, set up a few small companies. He later resigned from the university and went on to establish Al-Falah University. Over time, the business expanded into education, software, financial services, and the energy sector.
His business venture, Al-Falah Investments, was initially a major hit among local residents in Okhla, who were attracted by the unusually high returns it offered. However, the venture eventually ran into trouble, leading to his arrest. He reportedly spent three years in Tihar Jail in connection with the case.
In February 2004, Jawad got bail and was later acquitted in the case by the Patiala High Court a year later. This came after he and his brother agreed to refund the investors they had defrauded.
According to some Okhla residents, Jawad’s university was functioning well, and he was living a quiet life in his Jamia Nagar home after securing bail in the case until the Delhi terror blast occurred and attention shifted back to him.
Al-Falah University statement
The Al-Falah University on Wednesday said it has only a professional association with the two of its doctors arrested.
“We are deeply saddened and anguished by the unfortunate developments that took place and condemn the same. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the innocent people affected by these distressing events,” a statement issued by University Vice Chancellor Prof (Dr) Bhupinder Kaur Anand said.
“We have also learnt that two of our doctors have been detained by the investigating agencies. We wish to make it clear that the University has no connection with the said persons apart from them being working in their official capacities with the University,” she said.
Al-Falah University was established through Act 21 of 2014, passed by the Haryana Legislative Assembly under the Haryana Private Universities Act, 2006 (as amended in 2014), and officially notified on May 2, 2014. The University Grants Commission granted it recognition in 2015. Spread across 70 acre of lush, green campus space, the university is situated in Dhauj, Faridabad, near the foothills of the Aravalli range.
Al-Falah Hospital, part of the Al-Falah School of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, is a 650-bed charitable facility offering free consultations with multi-specialty doctors and diagnostic services.
