Faridabad’s Al Falah under ED lens after faculty link found in Delhi explosion case
Faridabad, Haryana – Al Falah University sits at the centre of a fast-expanding investigation this week. I begin with the Faridabad explosives recovery because it triggered the wider probe. Investigators found a large cache of explosives inside the rented house of Dr Muzammil Shakil in Dauj village.
Shakil, a Kashmir-based doctor, taught at Al Falah. Soon after, the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort killed more than 10 people. Agencies then linked the alleged suicide bomber, Dr Umar Un Nabi, to the same university. They also arrested several others connected to both the Faridabad seizure and the Red Fort attack.
As these links deepened, investigators summoned Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, chairman of the Al Falah group. They said his testimony was essential because they noticed gaps in documents and statements related to the university’s functioning. This marked the beginning of a broader scrutiny of the institution.
Next, the probe shifted to financial and administrative irregularities. Officials alleged that the university made false NAAC accreditation claims to attract students and gain undue financial advantage. On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate arrested Siddiqui in a money-laundering case. ED officers said they acted after analysing evidence collected during searches at locations tied to the Al Falah group.
The agency launched its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after the Delhi Police Crime Branch filed two FIRs. These FIRs accused the university of fabricating accreditation claims. ED officers said they discovered financial trails showing diversion of large sums. They claimed the trust channelled crores of rupees to family-owned companies.
A senior ED officer said Siddiqui controlled the trust since the late 1990s. He said Al Falah expanded rapidly under Siddiqui, yet its financial records did not justify such growth. He added that companies linked to Siddiqui’s family handled major contracts. These included construction, catering, and services tied to the trust. He said many of these companies resembled shell entities.
During the searches, ED teams seized ₹48 lakh in cash, electronic devices, and financial documents. Officers said they found that nine companies — all registered at the same address — played a crucial role in suspicious transactions. They pointed to overlapping directors, shared phone numbers, and negligible utility usage as major red flags.
Investigators also flagged irregular salary payments. They found no HR records, no payroll trail, and no statutory filings with EPFO or ESIC. They said these gaps raised questions about whether many employees even existed on paper.
As the investigation continues, agencies now examine both financial misconduct and personnel links. They want to determine whether the connections between the university and the suspects in the Red Fort blast run deeper than current evidence suggests.
