A Delhi court on Monday ordered Javed Ahmed Siddique, founder of Al Falah University, to 14-day judicial custody in a significant terror-linked money laundering investigation. Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan remanded him to custody until December 15.
Siddique was produced in court after the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) 13-day custodial interrogation, which began on November 19. The hearing saw a procedural contention, with the ED counsel arguing that producing Siddique on Monday was premature, as his remand period was technically set to conclude at 1 am on Tuesday, making Monday only the 12th day. The court, however, proceeded with the hearing.
Allegations of Financial Fraud and Terror Links
The ED's case paints a picture of large-scale financial malfeasance with alleged connections to terror funding. The agency has accused Al Falah University of falsely claiming recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and misrepresenting its accreditation status from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) to attract students.
According to the probe, the institution witnessed a "meteoric rise," generating a staggering Rs 415.10 crore in revenue between 2018 and 2025. The ED told the court that this financial success was suspicious, as the recorded finances did not match the assets accumulated by the group. The agency alleges that student fees and public funds were systematically diverted for personal and private use.
Crucially, the ED asserts that Siddique exercised de facto control over the Al Falah Charitable Trust, its managing trustee, and related entities, directing this financial pipeline. Searches conducted at 19 locations in Delhi-NCR on the day of his arrest led to the seizure of approximately Rs 48 lakh in cash.
Connection to the Delhi Car Blast
The money laundering case is being investigated for its potential links to a major terror incident that shook the national capital. On November 10, a high-intensity blast in a parked Hyundai i20 car near the Red Fort Metro Station killed at least 15 people, injured over 20, and gutted several vehicles. The fire from the explosion rapidly spread to nearby cars.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Cabinet has formally classified the car blast as a "terrorist incident." The government has expressed profound grief over the loss of lives and directed all investigating agencies to pursue the case with "utmost urgency and professionalism" to ensure the perpetrators, collaborators, and their sponsors are brought to justice at the earliest. The ED’s probe into Siddique and Al Falah University is part of this wider investigation into the funding networks behind the attack.
Court Grants Relief for Medical Needs
During Monday's proceedings, Siddique's counsel submitted an application requesting access to his prescribed medicines and spectacles while in judicial custody. The court approved the request. ED officials provided Siddique's medical prescription to the court, following which Judge Pradhan directed the jail authorities to ensure he continues to receive all necessary medical treatment.
The case will be heard next on December 15, following the conclusion of Siddique's judicial custody period. The developments mark a critical juncture in the multi-agency effort to unravel the financial underpinnings of terrorist activities, highlighting the alleged misuse of educational institutions for illicit funding.
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