New Delhi: The Delhi Police Crime Branch has arrested Al Falah University Chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui in connection with alleged financial and administrative irregularities, officials confirmed on Thursday.
The arrest follows recent action by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and comes after complaints were filed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) regarding suspected violations and fraudulent activities linked to the institution.
Based on the UGC complaint, the Crime Branch registered two separate FIRs against Siddiqui, accusing him of fraud and other offences under relevant legal provisions. Siddiqui was taken into custody and subsequently produced before a Delhi court, which granted the Crime Branch four days of police custody to allow investigators to question him and gather further evidence.
Authorities stated that the investigation focuses on alleged irregularities and falsification of records, with officials indicating that additional details may emerge during interrogation.
Al Falah University has previously come under national scrutiny after it was revealed that Dr Umar Nabi, responsible for the Red Fort blast that killed 12 people, had been employed at the institution. Investigations also found that two of Nabi’s associates, Dr Muzammil Shakeel and Dr Shaheen Shahid, were linked to a so-called “white-collar” terror network and had associations with the university.
In November last year, the university’s website was taken offline after the National Assessment and Accreditation Council issued a show-cause notice over an alleged false claim regarding its accreditation status.
The Enforcement Directorate has stated that it will scrutinise the institution’s financial operations, including funding sources and monetary transactions linked to both medical and administrative staff, as part of the ongoing investigation.
With IANS inputs