The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday arrested Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, chairman of the Al Falah group, during a series of coordinated raids across Delhi-NCR. The searches targeted trustees and promoters of Faridabad-based Al Falah University, which has emerged as a key focus in the investigation linked to the Red Fort area car blast case.
Officials confirmed that Siddiqui has been taken into custody under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He is being produced before a competent court for remand.
According to sources, ED teams launched simultaneous raids at around 5:15 am, covering at least 25 locations associated with the Al Falah Trust and the University. These included several premises in Faridabad and an office in Delhi’s Okhla area. Police and paramilitary forces provided an extensive security cordon during the searches.
The agency seized Rs 48 lakh in cash from the locations examined during the operation.
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An ED official stated, “The operation forms part of an ongoing investigation into financial irregularities, use of shell companies, accommodation entities and money laundering. The role of Al-Falah Trust and related entities is under investigation.”
Red Fort Blast Case Forms the Core of Probe
The November 10 blast near the historic Red Fort claimed 15 lives. Since then, central agencies have intensified scrutiny of individuals associated with Al Falah University, including several doctors linked to the institution and to networks in Kashmir.
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Key personnel overseeing the Trust’s finance and administrative operations have been covered in the raids. The ED is examining nine suspected shell companies, all registered at a single address and allegedly linked to the Al Falah group.
The ED’s action is based on FIRs filed by both the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Delhi Police. So far, the NIA has arrested two individuals believed to be close aides of “suicide bomber” Dr Umar Nabi.
Al Falah University, located in the Dhouj area of Faridabad, functions as a medical college-cum-hospital and has come under heavy scrutiny as investigators piece together alleged financial trails connected to the blast.
