The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday approached the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court order that granted two weeks’ interim bail to Al Falah University group chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui in a money laundering case. The agency argued that the lower court failed to consider Siddiqui’s alleged links to the Red Fort blast case while granting the relief.
Justice Saurabh Banerjee issued notice to Siddiqui on the agency’s plea and scheduled the matter for further hearing on March 19.
Appearing for the agency, Advocate Zoheb Hossain contended that the trial court wrongly granted interim bail to Siddiqui on the ground that his wife was suffering from stage-4 ovarian cancer. He argued that the medical condition was being used merely as a pretext to obtain bail and that the order was contrary to the requirements of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Hossain also challenged the trial court’s observation that the couple’s children, who are studying in the UAE, could not travel to India due to unrest in West Asia.
He told the court that thousands of Indians had recently returned from the UAE, indicating that travel between the two countries was ongoing.
“In the last week alone, 52,000 Indians have come back to India on a large number of flights that are operating between UAE and India. So complete perversity that because there is a war, children can’t come back,” he submitted.
The ED also argued that the health condition of Siddiqui’s wife was stable and did not amount to an emergency situation warranting bail. According to the agency, under the PMLA, health-related considerations for bail apply primarily to the accused and not to family members.
The agency further claimed that the trial court overlooked Siddiqui’s alleged antecedents while granting interim relief. Hossain told the court that Siddiqui had connections with individuals linked to the Red Fort blast case.
He submitted that some of the accused involved in the blast were associated with Al Falah University and had worked under Siddiqui, raising concerns about the possibility of further offences.
The ED also informed the court that the prosecution complaint in the money laundering case estimated the total proceeds of crime at ₹494 crore. Of this amount, assets worth about ₹144 crore have been attached so far.
Senior counsel appearing for Siddiqui defended the trial court’s decision, describing him as a respected academician and arguing that mere registration of FIRs should not be treated as criminal antecedents under the PMLA.
He also maintained that Siddiqui’s wife was seriously ill and required care.
According to the defence, the case itself represents a misuse of the anti-money laundering law and Siddiqui had no involvement in the alleged scheduled offence.
Siddiqui was arrested on November 18, 2025 in a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate under the PMLA. The investigation is linked to allegations that funds collected from students of institutions run by the Al Falah Charitable Trust were diverted for personal use.
The ED probe originated from two FIRs filed by the Delhi Police Crime Branch. The FIRs alleged that Al Falah University falsely projected NAAC accreditation and UGC recognition to attract students and parents.
According to the agency, the university generated ₹415.10 crore between 2018 and 2025 through fees collected from students.
The institution has also come under scrutiny in a separate “white-collar terror” investigation. In that probe, two doctors linked to the university were arrested, while another doctor associated with its hospital, Umar-un-Nabi, was identified as the suicide bomber responsible for the November 10 blast outside the Red Fort that killed 15 people.
The Delhi High Court will next hear the Enforcement Directorate’s challenge to Siddiqui’s interim bail on March 19.
