In New Delhi, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is intensifying its investigation into the alleged financial misconduct associated with the Al Falah Group and Trust. Recent findings suggest that the group's detained chairman may have acquired several land parcels in Delhi through document forgery.

The Al Falah University, located in Faridabad, Haryana, has come under scrutiny due to its connection to a tragic incident on November 10, where a doctor from its medical college reportedly detonated explosives in a vehicle, resulting in 15 fatalities and numerous injuries.

According to official sources, the ED is examining at least five cases where documents related to the General Power of Attorney (GPA) for land acquisitions are suspected to have been falsified under the direction of Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, the arrested chairman of the Al Falah Group.

Siddiqui was taken into custody on November 18 following raids targeting the Al Falah Group amid a money laundering investigation linked to allegations of defrauding students from their educational institutions, which reportedly lacked valid accreditation.

The GPAs in question may have been registered under the names of deceased individuals, and the investigation is still in progress, as per the sources.

The ED has also begun efforts to identify and assess the movable and immovable assets belonging to the group across the country, in addition to tracking funds that are believed to have been illicitly transferred abroad. The agency may take action to seize these properties under anti-money laundering regulations.

The ED has accused Siddiqui of fraudulently generating over Rs 415 crore from students enrolled in institutions operated by his Trust.

Furthermore, the agency has indicated that Siddiqui had motives to flee India, given that many of his close relatives reside in the Gulf region.

In its remand application for Siddiqui, the ED asserted that he had significant control over the personnel managing admission records, fee ledgers, accounts, and IT systems at Al Falah University and its affiliated institutions, which allowed him the ability to manipulate or destroy records.

The ED claims that Siddiqui exerts control over the entire Al Falah educational network, and thus far, only a fraction of the proceeds from the alleged criminal activities, amounting to Rs 415.10 crore, have been identified.

The agency noted that the Al Falah Group has experienced remarkable growth since the 1990s, evolving into a substantial educational institution.