NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday accused Al-Falah University chancellor Javed Ahmed Siddiqui of fraudulently acquiring land in Delhi’s Madanpur Khadar by using forged documents issued in the names of Hindu landowners who had died decades earlier.
According to the agency, land in Khasra No. 792 was transferred to the Tarbia Education Foundation— a trust linked to Siddiqui—on the basis of a forged General Power of Attorney (GPA). The ED said several landowners listed on the documents had died between 1972 and 1998, yet a GPA dated January 7, 2004, was created in their names and later used to reregister the land. The agency termed the transfer “fraudulent,” saying fake documents formed the foundation of the acquisition. Siddiqui remains in ED custody as the investigation continues.
On November 18, the ED arrested Siddiqui, founder of Al-Falah University, after the institution came under scrutiny following the alleged involvement of three of its professors in a terror module linked to the i20 car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10. He was arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, following extensive searches at premises related to the Al-Falah group.
The blast probe also brought attention to Dr Umar Un Nabi, the prime accused and a former student of the university. Hours before Siddiqui’s arrest, the ED carried out raids across 25 locations in the national capital, including the university’s Okhla office and residences of its promoters, uncovering discrepancies in claimed UGC and NAAC recognition. Nine shell companies registered at the same address and linked to the group are now under investigation.
The ED initiated its probe based on two FIRs filed by the Delhi Police Crime Branch alleging that Al-Falah University made fraudulent claims of NAAC accreditation and falsely asserted UGC recognition under Section 12(B) to deceive students and gain financially. The UGC later affirmed that the university is recognised only under Section 2(f) as a private state university, has never applied under Section 12(B), and is not eligible for grants under that provision. (Agencies)
