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Al-Falah Founder Remanded to 13 Days in ED Custody in Rs 415-Crore Laundering Probe

The PMLA case stems from Delhi Police FIRs on alleged fake accreditation, with investigators also testing possible links to the Nov. 10 Red Fort blast.

Overview

  • Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan granted 13 days of ED custody, citing grave allegations, a nascent investigation and risks of asset dissipation, evidence tampering and flight.
  • ED alleges Al-Falah institutions generated about Rs 415.10 crore in education receipts from FY2018–19 to FY2024–25 while misrepresenting NAAC status and UGC eligibility; the UGC says the university is only recognised under Section 2(f).
  • Searches at roughly 19–25 locations recovered around Rs 48 lakh in cash, digital devices and records, and pointed to diversion of funds to family-run firms as well as several suspected shell companies, including nine registered at one address.
  • Authorities are examining whether any funds or campus infrastructure were used by a suspected 'white-collar' module linked to the Nov. 10 Red Fort explosion, with police alleging a faculty member helped plan logistics on campus.
  • ED argued Siddiqui controls the trust and its institutions and has family in Gulf countries, while his counsel said the FIRs are fabricated and the allegations are false.