Police in Azamgarh have arrested two madrasa administrators accused of preparing forged documents and illegally obtaining government grants in the name of educational institutions. The arrests are part of a wider investigation into alleged financial irregularities linked to fake or non-existent madrasas in the district.
The arrested accused have been identified as Shakeel Ahmed, a resident of Nizamuddin Patti under Sarai Meer police station limits, and Mohammad Majeed, a resident of Kodhara village under Baradah police station area. Both are accused of using fabricated records to claim government funds meant for madrasa development.
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Forged Records Used to Claim Grants
According to police officials, Shakeel Ahmed is linked to MLAVM Convent School, bearing Madrasa ID-0191100687, in the Sarai Meer area. He is accused of preparing forged documents and presenting the institution as a legitimate operational madrasa to obtain government funding.
An FIR was registered at Sarai Meer police station on the basis of a report by the Economic Offences Wing. Police later conducted a raid and arrested Shakeel Ahmed from his residence.
In a separate case, Mohammad Majeed, associated with Madrasa Bismillah Memorial in Kodhara village under Baradah police station, was arrested on similar allegations. Police said he was taken into custody near Kodhara Mor after actionable intelligence inputs.
SIT Report Found 219 Non-Existent Madrasas
Investigators said preliminary scrutiny of records has revealed serious inconsistencies in documentation. Authorities suspect that fake records were used to show non-existent or non-functional institutions as eligible for government grants.
The wider probe has also examined irregularities in the madrasa recognition process. Reports suggest that in 2009-10, several institutions were granted recognition without proper physical verification.
Complaints were later raised in 2017, alleging the existence of nearly 700 questionable madrasas in the region. Subsequent verification found 387 institutions to be legitimate, while doubts remained over several others. In 2022, a Special Investigation Team submitted a report to the state government confirming that 219 madrasas were non-existent.
Multiple FIRs, 72 Arrests So Far
Based on the SIT findings, instructions were issued to register criminal cases against those responsible. However, formal FIRs were eventually registered in 2025 after delays in procedural action.
Officials said 207 individuals have been named in multiple FIRs linked to the case. So far, 72 madrasa operators have been arrested, while some accused have reportedly secured bail from higher courts.
Police are now examining financial transactions, bank accounts and related records to trace the alleged diversion of public funds. Both arrested accused are being interrogated to identify additional links in the network and determine how government grants were processed and misused. Further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.
