ED Arrests Al Falah Group Chairman in Money Laundering Probe Linked to Red Fort Blast

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, chairman of the Al Falah Group, after conducting early-morning searches at multiple locations across Delhi-NCR. The action is part of a money-laundering investigation connected to the Red Fort area car blast case.

According to officials, Siddiqui was taken into custody under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and is being produced before a court for remand. The agency seized ₹48 lakh in cash during the raids, which began around 5:15 am and spanned 19 locations.

Raid at Al-Falah Trust, Okhla

A major search operation was carried out at the Al-Falah Trust office in Delhi’s Okhla, with heavy police and paramilitary deployment surrounding the premises. The ED registered the money-laundering case based on two FIRs lodged by the Delhi Police.

The investigation comes in the wake of the November 10 car blast near Red Fort, which killed 15 people. Anti-terror agencies are examining the role of a network of doctors linked to Al-Falah University in Faridabad and individuals in Kashmir.

So far, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two alleged associates of “suicide bomber” Dr. Umar Nabi, who was driving the explosive-laden vehicle.

University Under Financial Scrutiny

Al-Falah University, located in Faridabad’s Dhouj area, operates as a medical college-cum-hospital under the Al-Falah Charitable Trust. ED officials said the university, along with other institutions under the trust, was “effectively controlled” by Siddiqui despite its charitable status.

The agency alleges the entire Al-Falah group experienced a sudden and unexplained expansion since the 1990s, with financial records not supporting the scale of growth.

Investigators claim that crores of rupees were diverted from the trust to entities owned by Siddiqui’s family members. Construction and catering contracts were allegedly handed to businesses belonging to his wife and children.

Shell Companies, Fund Layering Found

The ED said it has identified at least nine shell companies, all registered at the same address, linked to the group. The agency claims there is evidence of:

• Diversion of trust funds to family-controlled entities
• Layering of money through shell firms
• Recovery of unaccounted cash from trustees
• Multiple regulatory violations across various Acts

According to the ED, these findings show a clear pattern of generating and laundering proceeds of crime.

Fraudulent Certification Allegations

The Delhi Police FIR also accuses Al-Falah University of:

• Falsely claiming NAAC accreditation
• Misleading students and parents about UGC recognition under Section 12(B)

These claims, the complaint says, were made to lure aspirants and secure wrongful financial gain.