New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, chairman of the Al Falah Group, in connection with an alleged ₹45 crore land fraud case in Delhi. Officials said the case involves the acquisition of land using “forged documents.”
The ED stated that its investigation revealed documents had been falsified and used to fraudulently acquire the property. Siddiqui, who is also director and majority shareholder of Tarbia Education Foundation, was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
According to the agency, Siddiqui, in collusion with several individuals, orchestrated the preparation and execution of these forged documents to acquire land bearing Khasra No. 792, Village Madanpur Khadar, New Delhi, measuring 1.146 acres and currently valued at approximately ₹45 crore.
Siddiqui was produced in a local court in Delhi, which remanded him to ED custody until April 4 for further interrogation.
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The federal probe agency noted that the consideration amount mentioned in the documents was only ₹75 lakh, while the actual transaction value was significantly higher. Investigators are tracing the complete money trail and identifying other beneficiaries and properties acquired through the scheme.
It is worth noting that Siddiqui had previously been arrested by the ED on November 19, 2025, in a money laundering case linked to alleged fraudulent accreditation claims and financial irregularities by the educational group’s flagship institutions. That case was based on two complaints registered by the Delhi Police Crime Branch against Al Falah University, including charges related to cheating and alleged forgery of accreditation documents.
Interim investigations also highlighted the need for scrutiny of the university campus in Dhouj, Faridabad, following the arrest of several doctors connected to the November 10 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, which killed 15 people and injured several others. One of the doctors associated with the university-cum-hospital, Dr Umar-un-Nabi, was allegedly involved in the blast as a suicide bomber. ED had examined the university’s role in this context as well.
Experts say cases like these underscore the increasing pattern of money laundering, forged documents, and fraudulent land acquisitions, often involving top officials of higher education institutions. The involvement of senior administrators makes such cases particularly serious.
The ED is actively pursuing the investigation, interrogating those in custody to identify sources of funds, related properties, and other potential beneficiaries. Officials emphasized that no legal lapse will be tolerated during the probe.
Prosecution sources added that the investigation will also examine whether other entities or officials associated with the university were involved in the fraudulent scheme. Subsequent arrests or legal action will depend on the findings of this ongoing inquiry.
This case raises critical questions about financial transparency and governance in educational institutions, especially regarding property acquisition and management. Such incidents affect institutional credibility, public trust, and pose challenges for regulatory oversight.
