Al Falah University Chairman Arrested by Delhi Crime Branch in Fraud Case
Arrest follows UGC complaints and an ongoing money laundering investigation by the Enforcement Directorate.
New Delhi, Feb 05 : The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has arrested Al Falah University chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui over alleged financial and administrative misconduct, officials said on Thursday. The action comes alongside a separate probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) triggered by complaints from the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Siddiqui was presented before a Delhi court, which granted investigators four days of police custody to facilitate interrogation and gather evidence.
Authorities registered two FIRs after the UGC flagged suspected irregularities related to the institution’s regulatory claims and governance. Meanwhile, the ED has filed a chargesheet against Siddiqui and the Al Falah Charitable Trust under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
According to the federal agency, the case stems from accusations that the university continued to advertise NAAC accreditation despite the expiry of its grades. Investigators allege that the purported recognition was used to attract students and collect fees, potentially qualifying the funds as proceeds of crime.
The ED told the court it has provisionally attached certain assets linked to the investigation. Searches conducted at multiple premises reportedly led to the seizure of cash, electronic devices and financial documents. Officials also claimed that some contracts were routed to entities associated with Siddiqui’s relatives, with senior functionaries indicating his involvement in approving key financial decisions.
A Delhi court is scheduled to hear arguments on the chargesheet on February 13 after the defence requested additional time to review the material submitted.
The institution has previously drawn scrutiny as well. Last November, its website was taken offline following a show-cause notice from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council over alleged misrepresentation of accreditation status.
In a separate development, investigators examining the November 2025 car explosion near the Red Fort which left 15 people dead traced connections to the university and its parent trust. The driver was identified through DNA analysis as an assistant professor, and additional staff members were later detained for their suspected involvement in what agencies described as a white-collar terror network.
Officials indicated that further revelations may surface as the financial and administrative investigation progresses.
