New Delhi, January 18, 2026: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered a series of alarming findings against Faridabad-based Al Falah University as part of its ongoing money laundering probe linked to the November 2025 Red Fort blast in New Delhi.
The investigation comes amid allegations that extremist individuals associated with the Red Fort attack had used the university campus as a base in the months leading up to the incident. In a chargesheet filed before a Delhi court on Friday, the ED detailed multiple regulatory violations, financial irregularities, and fraudulent appointments at the private institution. While the National Investigation Agency (NIA) continues to probe the terror angle of the blast separately, the ED’s findings highlight systemic lapses and possible complicity in enabling terror-linked individuals to operate under the guise of an academic setup.
Here are the key revelations disclosed by the ED so far:
1. Terror-linked doctors appointed without police verification
The ED reported that Al Falah University had hired three doctors with alleged links to the Red Fort blast without any background scrutiny or police verification.
Two of these individuals, Dr. Muzammil Ganaie and Dr. Shaheen Saeed, were later arrested by the NIA. The third, Dr. Umar Nabi, was reportedly behind the wheel of the vehicle involved in the explosion.
In statements recorded under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the university registrar admitted to the visits by investigative agencies and confirmed that these doctors were associated with the university hospital. He acknowledged that no police verification had been conducted at the time of their appointments, even though the medical college, established in 2019, was meant to operate under strict regulatory oversight.
2. ‘On-paper’ doctors to meet regulatory norms
The chargesheet also exposed the practice of employing “on-paper” doctors solely to secure approvals from the National Medical Commission (NMC). According to the ED, several doctors were listed as faculty under nominal arrangements, such as working “22 days per month” or “two days per week,” without actually attending classes or treating patients.
Officials claimed that these appointments were designed to project compliance with regulatory requirements while the university continued to function with minimal oversight. This strategy, the ED alleged, ensured uninterrupted operations of the medical college despite its systemic deficiencies.
3. Fake patients for inspections
The ED’s investigation further revealed that the university hospital staged fake patient admissions during inspections by the NMC to give an impression of a functional healthcare facility.
Text messages and video chats appended to the chargesheet allegedly demonstrate that the hospital was largely non-functional weeks before regulatory inspections. Temporary doctors were reportedly hired only to meet inspection requirements, while the campus lacked real patients, staff, and faculty.
4. Appointments of terror-linked doctors
The university’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal informed the ED that all three doctors linked to terror activities were appointed during her tenure.
- Dr. Ganaie – Junior Resident, General Medicine, appointed October 2021
- Dr. Saeed – Associate Professor, Pharmacology, appointed October 2021
- Dr. Nabi – Assistant Professor, General Medicine, appointed May 2024
According to the VC, these appointments were recommended by the university’s HR head and formally approved by Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, the chairman of Al Falah University. She confirmed that no police verification or background scrutiny was conducted before issuing their appointment letters.
5. ₹493.24 crore alleged proceeds of crime
The ED has pegged the proceeds of crime in the case at ₹493.24 crore, allegedly collected through tuition and examination fees by misleading students with false claims of NAAC accreditation and valid UGC recognition.
Siddiqui, the university chairman, is said to have played a “central, dominant, and controlling role” in the alleged money laundering operations. The chargesheet highlights that on-paper doctors were paid significantly lower salaries than other faculty of similar rank, and some were issued fake work experience certificates under his authority.
6. Overseas links of Siddiqui’s children
The ED has also flagged possible foreign links involving Siddiqui’s children. Preliminary probe indicates that his son, Afham Ahmed, and daughter, Afiya Siddiqa, may hold dual citizenship, with certain foreign incorporation filings suggesting they are British nationals. This claim is currently under verification.
Siddiqui has denied any connection to terrorist or banned organizations in statements recorded before the ED.
Next Steps in the Investigation
The ED has recorded statements of several senior executives and faculty members at Al Falah University. Officials indicated that a supplementary chargesheet is likely, as the alleged proceeds of crime may increase once financial records beyond March 2025 are examined.
The investigation underscores serious regulatory lapses at the university, revealing how extremist-linked individuals exploited institutional loopholes, staged fake operations, and bypassed mandatory verifications.
As the NIA continues its terrorism-related probe, the ED’s ongoing inquiry highlights the interconnection between fraudulent academic operations and potential terror financing, raising concerns about oversight mechanisms in private educational institutions.
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