ED Seizes Rs 39.45 Crore Assets in Al-Falah Trust Money Laundering Probe
In a significant crackdown, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached movable and immovable properties valued at Rs 39.45 crore belonging to Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, a trustee of the Al-Falah Charitable Trust. This action, taken on Tuesday, targets assets located in Faridabad district and other areas, as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Details of the Attached Properties
The attached assets include Siddiqui's residential premises in Jamia Nagar, Okhla, New Delhi, and agricultural land in Dhauj, Faridabad, which is adjacent to the Al-Falah University campus. Additionally, the ED has seized demat holdings, bank balances, and fixed deposits belonging to both Siddiqui and the Al-Falah Charitable Trust. This move follows the Haryana government's earlier takeover of Al-Falah University, which is now managed by a senior bureaucrat serving as an administrator.
Background of the PMLA Probe
The ED's investigation is based on three FIRs registered by the Delhi Police crime branch on November 13, 2025. These FIRs allege offences of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which constitute scheduled offences under the PMLA. The complaints accuse Al-Falah University of falsely projecting expired NAAC A grade accreditations as valid and claiming a non-existent UGC Section 12B recognition.
Furthermore, the Al-Falah School of Medical Sciences and Research Centre was allegedly found using "on-paper faculty" and "fake patients" to secure approvals from the National Medical Commission (NMC). On January 16, the ED filed a prosecution complaint against Siddiqui and the trust before a special PMLA court in Delhi.
Scale of the Fraud and Financial Diversions
ED investigations have revealed that the trust generated a staggering Rs 493.24 crore in proceeds of crime between the financial years 2016-17 and 2024-25 through these fraudulent activities. The funds were allegedly diverted to entities controlled by Siddiqui and his family, including:
- Karkun Construction & Developers
- Amla Enterprises LLP
- Diyala Construction & Developers Private Limited
These proceeds were then reportedly siphoned off to foreign destinations, highlighting the international dimension of the money laundering scheme. In a previous action in January, the ED attached land and buildings at the Al-Falah University campus valued at Rs 144.09 crore.
Current Status of the Accused
Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui was previously arrested by the ED and is currently in judicial custody. The agency continues to tighten its grip on the former management of the Al-Falah Charitable Trust, with this latest attachment underscoring the seriousness of the allegations and the ongoing efforts to recover illicit assets.
