Al Falah Group chairperson had reasons to flee India; tainted funds identified: ED

NEW DELHI, Nov 19: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has secured a 13-day custodial remand for chairperson of the Al Falah group Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, accused of generating over Rs 415 crore “dishonestly” from students studying in the institutions run by him.
Seeking his custody during a hearing on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, the ED claimed that Siddiqui had “incentives” to flee India as his close family members are settled in the Gulf.
After the court hearing, held at the residence of Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan, which ended at 1 am, the designated court sent Siddiqui to ED custody for 13 days.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Siddiqui on Tuesday night after conducting day-long searches against the group, linked persons and the Faridabad-based Al Falah University, which is emerging as an epicentre of investigation in the November 10 Delhi blast case that killed 15 persons and injured several others.
The agency informed the court that the university and its controlling trust, under the direction of Siddiqui, generated “proceeds of crime” of at least Rs 415.10 crore by “dishonestly” inducing students and parents to part with money on the basis of false accreditation and recognition claims.
The judge said, “After carefully considering the submission made, I am of the considered view that all the compliances under Section 19 of the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) have been done.” “Considering the gravity of the offence and that the investigation is at a nascent stage, I deem it appropriate that the accused is granted ED custody remand for a period of 13 days (till December 1),” the judge ordered.
The ED had sought a 14-day custody.
The university’s role emerged during the probe into a ‘white-collar’ terror module in which 10 people, including three doctors, have been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Jammu and Kashmir Police.
One of the doctors at the varsity-cum-hospital, Dr Umar-un-Nabi, is alleged to have acted as a suicide bomber while driving an explosive-laden car on November 10 that blasted outside the Red Fort, killing 15 people.
The ED took cognisance of two Delhi Police FIRs to register its case on November 14 under the anti-money laundering law against the Al Falah Group. (PTI)