Al Falah University founder Jawed Siddiqui in ED custody for 13 days in money laundering case

November 19, 2025

New Delhi: A Delhi court early Wednesday remanded Al Falah University founder Jawed Ahmed Siddiqui to 13 days of Enforcement Directorate custody.

He was arrested Tuesday evening in a terror-linked money laundering probe and produced before Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan close to midnight, with the hearing continuing till 1 am.

The judge noted that “all the compliances under Section 19 of the PMLA have been done” and, given the seriousness of the allegations and the early stage of the investigation, ordered custodial remand.

ED Flags Fake Accreditation Claims & Sharp Revenue Spike
The Enforcement Directorate has accused Al Falah University of falsely presenting itself as a UGC-recognised institution and misrepresenting its NAAC accreditation. NAAC, an autonomous body of the UGC, evaluates and accredits higher educational institutions.

According to the ED, the university generated ₹415.10 crore in educational revenue from 2018 to 2025, recording a significant surge each year—from ₹24.21 crore in 2018–19 to ₹80.10 crore in 2024–25.

Allegations of Misuse of Funds and Asset Discrepancies
The agency stated that despite the Al-Falah group expanding rapidly since the 1990s, the financial records do not align with the scale of assets accumulated.

ED Special Prosecutor Simon Benjamin told the court that funds collected from students and the public were allegedly diverted for personal use. He added that several individuals confirmed that financial decisions were taken under Siddiqui’s direction.

The agency argued that custodial interrogation is needed to determine the full extent of the suspected proceeds of crime.

Searches Across 19 Locations; Cash Seized

The ED highlighted that Siddiqui continues to wield significant control over the Al-Falah Charitable Trust and its institutions, giving him the ability to shift or conceal assets.

The arrest followed extensive searches on Tuesday across the Delhi-NCR region targeting trustees and promoters connected to Al Falah University. These searches, linked to the Red Fort area car blast case, resulted in the seizure of ₹48 lakh in cash from 19 premises of the trust and university.