Charges Filed Against Al-Falah Group Chairperson in Money Laundering Case Linked to Delhi Blast
Overview of the Case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced on Friday that it has submitted a chargesheet against Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, the head of the Al-Falah group, along with the Al-Falah Charitable Trust, in connection with a money laundering investigation.
This investigation is tied to a blast that occurred near Delhi's Red Fort on November 10, which has drawn significant attention.
As part of the investigation, the ED has also seized assets valued at approximately Rs 140 crore belonging to Al-Falah University, which is affiliated with the Al-Falah group.
The allegations involve the generation and laundering of funds associated with the trust, Al-Falah University, and other related entities owned by the group.
Siddiqui was taken into custody on November 18 and is currently in judicial detention.
According to the ED, the estimated proceeds from the alleged criminal activities amount to Rs 493.2 crore.
Details of the Incident
The Incident
The explosion near the Red Fort metro station resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals. It is believed that Umar Un Nabi, a doctor, was driving the vehicle that detonated. The Union government classified the incident as a terrorist act shortly after it occurred.
In the aftermath, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested at least nine individuals connected to the blast.
Prior to the explosion, police reported that they had dismantled an inter-state and transnational terror network operating in Faridabad and Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. They also recovered 2,900 kg of materials used for making improvised explosive devices during raids across multiple states.
Investigators indicated that key suspects, including Nabi, utilized a room at Al-Falah Medical College in Faridabad to coordinate logistics for transporting ammonium nitrate intended for multiple attacks in the National Capital Region.
Notably, the vehicle involved in the blast had been parked on the college campus for nearly three weeks, according to police reports.
Legal Proceedings and Allegations
Siddiqui, who has served as chancellor of Al-Falah University since 2014, was detained under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following the examination of evidence collected during searches on November 18.
The ED's case is based on two first information reports filed by the Delhi Police, which allege that Al-Falah University falsely claimed accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council and misrepresented its eligibility under the University Grants Commission Act.
The National Assessment and Accreditation Council is an independent body that evaluates and accredits higher education institutions to assess their quality.
The University Grants Commission has clarified that Al-Falah University is recognized solely as a state private university and has never qualified for central funding.
The ED has accused Siddiqui of playing a significant role in fraudulent misrepresentations to regulators and stakeholders, leading to unauthorized admissions and fee collections.
It is claimed that Siddiqui maintained dominant control over the Al-Falah Charitable Trust, Al-Falah University, and related entities, benefiting from the illicit proceeds.
More than Rs 110 crore was allegedly funneled to companies controlled by his family.
The ED has outlined various violations, including misrepresentation of accreditation status and false claims regarding eligibility under the University Grants Commission.
Additionally, the establishment and operation of the medical college reportedly involved breaches of National Medical Commission regulations and the acquisition of approvals through misrepresentation.