Al Falah University Founder in Custody Over Fake NAAC Accreditation and Red Fort Blast Links
The Delhi Police Crime Branch has taken Al Falah Group founder and chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui into four-day custody to question him over serious allegations involving fake accreditation and illegal degree programmes at Faridabad-based Al Falah University. This development comes amid an ongoing investigation that has linked the university to the November 10 Red Fort blast that claimed nine lives.
Police Custody and Accreditation Fraud Allegations
On January 27, the Delhi Police Crime Branch took Siddiqui into custody for four days. Senior officers stated that he is being questioned in connection with FIRs accusing Al Falah University of falsely claiming accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The university had previously received an 'A' grade from NAAC, but police allege this accreditation was fraudulent.
"Siddiqui was taken into custody for four days on January 27 and questioned over accreditation claims, as well as BEd and engineering degrees allegedly offered by the university," a senior Delhi Police officer confirmed. The investigation focuses on whether the university dishonestly induced students to enroll using false claims about its accreditation status.
Connection to Red Fort Blast Investigation
The university first came under security agencies' radar following the November 10 blast outside the Red Fort. Siddiqui was initially arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on November 18 last year on money laundering charges related to the university's operations.
Three doctors working at the university-affiliated Al-Falah School of Medical Sciences & Research Centre have emerged as suspects in the terror module probe:
- Umar Nabi: Suspected to be the person driving the car that exploded near the Red Fort
- Shaheen Ansari: Taken into custody following the investigation
- Muzammil Ganai: Arrested on October 30, 2025, with police claiming to have recovered 350 kg of explosive materials from his rented residence in Faridabad
This connection has prompted the Union government to order a forensic audit of all university records to uncover potential links between the institution and terrorist activities.
Money Laundering and Financial Irregularities
The Enforcement Directorate has revealed substantial financial irregularities involving Al Falah University. According to ED statements to a Delhi court last November, the university generated proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 415 crore by dishonestly inducing students to enroll using false accreditation claims.
In January, the ED attached immovable properties worth Rs 139.97 crore belonging to the university while filing a chargesheet against Ansari under money laundering charges. An ED spokesperson stated: "Siddiqui was found to have layered proceeds of crime through family-controlled entities. Institutional funds were routed through family-owned entities including Amla Enterprises LLP, Karkun Construction & Developers, and Diyala Construction and Developers Private Limited, among others."
The investigation further revealed that charitable and educational institutions were used as instruments for personal, family, and commercial benefit. The ED found outward foreign remittances of over Rs 3 crore in favour of his wife and around Rs 1 crore in favour of his son.
University Background and Operations
Established in 1997 as a dispensary, the institute began offering BTech courses in 2003. It was upgraded to a university in 2014 and started offering undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes. Undergraduate medical courses began in 2019, followed by postgraduate medical courses two years ago.
The university currently has five batches of 150-200 students each studying MBBS every year, highlighting the scale of operations that are now under scrutiny for alleged accreditation fraud and connections to terrorist activities.
The case represents a significant development in both educational fraud investigations and national security matters, with implications for higher education regulation and counter-terrorism efforts in India.
