New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday carried out coordinated raids at 25 locations linked to Al-Falah University, intensifying its investigation into the funding and operations of the Haryana-based institution following the deadly Delhi car-bomb blast that killed at least 15 people earlier this month.
ED teams searched multiple premises — including the university’s Okhla office — after the institution came under suspicion when three doctors associated with it were arrested for their alleged role in the terror module behind the blast. The probe deepened after investigators recovered around 2,900 kg of bomb-making materials from rooms rented by Dr. Muzammil, one of the accused doctors.
The university had already attracted scrutiny last week when its website was taken down following a show-cause notice from NAAC for falsely claiming accreditation.
Funding Network, Shell Firms Under Probe
The ED confirmed that its teams began search operations around 5:15 am, targeting entities linked to the Al-Falah charitable trust and its trustee Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, founder of the university and its medical college. This college had employed several doctors now accused of running the terror module — including Umar-un-Nabi, the alleged Kashmir-based bomber.
According to an ED official, the raids are part of an ongoing investigation into financial irregularities, shell companies, accommodation entries and suspected money laundering.
The agency has identified nine shell firms, all registered at one address and allegedly linked to the group’s financial network.
“Prima facie discrepancies have surfaced in claims related to UGC and NAAC recognition,” the source said, confirming inquiries into alleged cheating, forgery and fraudulent declarations.
Regulatory Flags Triggered the Crackdown
The probe stems from FIRs filed by Delhi Police after NAAC flagged Al-Falah University for misleading accreditation claims. NAAC had warned that the institution falsely displayed recognition on its website — a violation that prompted the current wave of investigations.
Following this, the Centre asked the ED to examine the entire funding structure of the university and its affiliated colleges, leading to the registration of a money-laundering case.
IED Plot Was Hatched on Campus, Say Investigators
Preliminary findings from state police suggest that the conspiracy to assemble an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and plan the attack was hatched inside the Al-Falah School of Medical Sciences and Research Centre.
Complicating matters further, trustee Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui and his brother Hamood Siddiqui have long faced allegations of financial fraud and investment scams. On Sunday, Indore Rural Police arrested Hamood in Hyderabad in connection with separate cheating cases.
As the investigation widens, more disclosures are expected, with Al-Falah University now at the heart of a major national security and financial crime probe.
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