CourtCase – Delhi Court Extends Custody of Al Falah Chairman
CourtCase – A Delhi court on Friday ordered a 14-day extension of judicial custody for Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, chairman of Faridabad-based Al Falah University, in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged financial and regulatory violations. The case is scheduled to be heard next on March 27.
Court Seeks ED Response on Document Plea
During the proceedings, the court also issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate after Siddiqui filed an application requesting access to documents related to the charge sheet. His plea sought copies of materials relied upon by investigators, arguing that these documents were necessary for his legal defence. The court directed the agency to respond to the request in the upcoming hearing.
Siddiqui has been in judicial custody since January 31, when he was remanded for 14 days following his arrest earlier that week.
Arrest Linked to UGC Complaint
The chairman was taken into custody by the Delhi Police Crime Branch on January 27 in connection with two First Information Reports registered against him. The action followed a complaint filed by the University Grants Commission, which alleged fraud and other irregularities related to the functioning of the institution.
According to investigators, the university’s accreditation expired in 2018. However, officials claim the institution continued to present itself as recognised by the UGC on its website and in promotional materials even after the accreditation period had lapsed.
Police sources allege that these representations may have influenced students to seek admission under the belief that the university remained officially approved.
Scrutiny Intensifies Amid Wider Investigation
The matter gained further attention after security agencies began examining links between certain individuals associated with the university and a separate criminal investigation. Three doctors connected to the university’s medical institute were named as suspects in a blast that occurred near Delhi’s historic Red Fort on November 10.
Investigators alleged that one of the suspects, Umar Nabi, was driving the vehicle that exploded near the site. Authorities claimed the individuals were linked to a terror module involved in the incident. While the blast investigation is separate, it intensified scrutiny around the institution and its administration.
Earlier Custody and Questioning
Following his arrest in January, Siddiqui was placed in four days of police custody for questioning. Officials said investigators sought clarification regarding the university’s accreditation status and the courses it offered, including B.Ed and engineering programmes.
The police action came after earlier proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate. In November last year, the ED arrested Siddiqui in a money laundering case related to the university’s operations.
Allegations of Financial Irregularities
The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that the institution generated proceeds of crime amounting to approximately Rs 45 crore. According to the agency, students were allegedly induced to enrol based on misleading claims about recognition and approval status.
In January, the agency informed the court that it had provisionally attached immovable assets worth Rs 139.97 crore linked to the university while filing its charge sheet in the case.
Investigators further claimed that institutional funds were routed through entities controlled by Siddiqui’s family members. They also alleged that foreign remittances were made in favour of his relatives as part of the suspected financial layering.
Siddiqui has not publicly commented on the allegations. The matter remains under judicial consideration, and the next hearing is expected to address both the custody extension and the application seeking access to charge sheet documents.
The case continues to unfold as multiple agencies pursue parallel investigations into the university’s regulatory compliance and financial dealings.