ED Raids 25 Locations Linked to Al-Falah Group in Red Fort Blast Probe

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted coordinated searches at 25 locations across Delhi and Faridabad on Tuesday, targeting the Al-Falah group, which has been linked to the November 10 Red Fort car blast case. The operation, which began at 5:15 am, covered the group's headquarters, residences of trustees, and administrative offices. The ED's investigation, which began after registering a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), focuses on alleged financial irregularities at Al-Falah University. The institution was attended by Red Fort bomber Dr. Umar un Nabi and several accused in the Faridabad terror module. The agency is examining entities tied to the Al-Falah Trust and the university's promoters for suspected fund diversion and layering. This comes after the University Grants Commission (UGC) filed two FIRs against Al-Falah University, alleging cheating and forgery. The ED's action also follows the revocation of Al-Falah University's membership by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). On Monday, Delhi Police issued summonses to trustee Javed Ahmad Siddiqui, whose testimony is crucial in explaining the group's financial claims. Siddiqui, who has business interests in education, software, financial services, and energy, was questioned by ED officials on Tuesday. He has a history of alleged involvement in duping investors through Halal investment schemes. The ED's searches covered financial, compliance, and administrative units of the group. Preliminary findings indicate serious financial discrepancies, including a network of nine suspected shell companies linked to the group. These companies were allegedly registered to a single address, with no operational footprint, inconsistent utility usage, and shared mobile numbers and email IDs. Agencies are also verifying discrepancies in the group's claims about UGC and NAAC accreditations for its educational units. Investigators are analysing seized digital records, bank statements, and internal correspondence recovered during the operation. The investigation is ongoing, and further action will depend on what the financial trail reveals. The ED's action is part of an ongoing probe into complex layering of funds through accommodation entities.