A Delhi Court on Monday sent Javed Ahmed Siddiqui, Chairman of the Al Falah Group, to 14 days’ judicial custody in connection with a money laundering case lodged against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Siddiqui was in ED custody and was produced before the Saket Court after the expiry of his custodial remand. The ED did not seek further remand.
Siddiqui was arrested on November 18 following a detailed investigation and analysis of evidence gathered during searches at premises linked to the group.
The ED initiated its probe based on two FIRs registered by the Delhi Police Crime Branch. The FIRs alleged that Al-Falah University in Faridabad made fraudulent claims of NAAC accreditation and UGC recognition under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act to deceive students, parents, and stakeholders for wrongful gain.
The UGC clarified that the university is recognised only under Section 2(f) as a State Private University, has never applied for 12(B) status, and is not eligible for grants.
The Al-Falah Charitable Trust, established in 1995, names Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui as a founding and managing trustee. The trust ultimately owns and controls all the group’s educational institutions. While the group has grown rapidly since the 1990s, this expansion is not backed by adequate financial records.
As part of the probe, the ED conducted search operations today at 19 locations in Delhi, including the university premises and the residences of key individuals. The investigation has revealed that large amounts of proceeds of crime were generated.
Evidence indicates that crores of rupees were diverted by the trust to entities owned by Siddiqui’s family, with construction and catering contracts awarded to firms owned by his wife and children.
During the searches, over ₹48 lakh in cash, multiple digital devices, and various documents were seized. The ED has identified several shell companies within the group and detected multiple violations under other laws.
According to the agency, the exhaustive evidence— including cash recovery, diversion of funds, and layering of finances— establishes a clear pattern of generating and concealing proceeds of crime, implicating Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui as the effective controller of the trust and its activities.
After establishing his culpability, Siddiqui was arrested under Section 19 of the PMLA.
Further investigation is underway.