The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, the Chairman of Al-Falah University Group, in response to a plea by the Enforcement Directorate challenging his interim bail in a money laundering case linked to the Red Fort blast investigation. The court directed Siddiqui to respond to the federal anti-money laundering agency’s petition, with further hearings scheduled for March 19. Siddiqui had been granted interim bail by a Delhi court on humanitarian grounds due to his wife’s critical illness, prompting the ED to challenge this decision.
The trial court had granted Siddiqui a two-week interim bail citing medical and humanitarian reasons, as his wife was undergoing chemotherapy for stage-IV metastatic ovarian cancer at a hospital in New Delhi. Siddiqui, who had been in custody since November 18, 2025, sought bail to support his wife during her treatment, as their children were unable to travel from the UAE due to work and education commitments. The ED opposed the bail, arguing that Siddiqui was involved in serious economic offenses and could influence witnesses if released.
Despite the ED’s objections, the trial court granted Siddiqui bail, requiring him to furnish bonds and imposing restrictions, including surrendering his passport and refraining from contacting witnesses. The case involves allegations of financial irregularities connected to the Al-Falah Charitable Trust and Al-Falah University, with the ED having attached assets worth Rs 139.97 crore and filed a charge sheet against Siddiqui and others. The agency alleges that fraudulent practices led to the generation of Rs 493.24 crore through misrepresentations to regulators and stakeholders.
