New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, founder of Al-Falah University and chairman of Al-Falah Group, under section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
According to ED officials, the arrest followed a detailed examination of material gathered during searches at premises linked to Al-Falah Group as part of an ECIR-based probe.
Al-Falah University, in Faridabad, has been under the scanner since a car blast near Red Fort killed 13 persons and in
jured many more.
ED launched an investigation after two FIRs were registered by Delhi Police’s Crime Branch, which claimed Al-Falah University made “fraudulent and misleading” claims of NAAC accreditation which deceived students, parents and stakeholders.
The FIRs further said that Al-Falah university falsely portrayed itself as being recognised under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act, which allows institutions to receive central grants. However, the University Grants Commission (UGC) clarified that Al-Falah University is included only under Section 2(f) as a state private university, and has not applied for inclusion under Section 12(B). That makes it ineligible for any grant.
ED has said that Al-Falah Charitable Trust was constituted by a public charitable trust deed dated September 8, 1995, with Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui being named as one of the first trustees and designated as the Managing Trustee.