Fugitive Brother of Al-Falah University Founder Arrested After 25 Years in Multi-State Investment Fraud Case

Bhopal:

A significant investigation spanning across two states has revealed shocking developments related to Faridabad-based Al-Falah University, which recently gained attention in the Delhi car blast case. While Delhi Police summoned university founder-chairman Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui for questioning, authorities in Madhya Pradesh made a breakthrough by arresting his younger brother, Hamud (Hamood) Ahmad Siddiqui, who had evaded capture for nearly 25 years.

Fifty-year-old Hamud was apprehended on Sunday in Hyderabad's Gachibowli area and transported to Mhow the following day. He was wanted in multiple cases, including a 1988 incident involving rioting and attempted murder, along with several investment fraud cases registered in 2000.

Indore Rural Superintendent of Police Yangchen Dolkar Bhutia revealed that Hamud had established a new life in Hyderabad, operating a stock-market investment firm under a different identity. "He previously ran an investment firm in Mhow around 1996 with his wife and another associate, promising investors 20% returns. After operating for two years, he disappeared without returning the investors' funds," she explained.

Three separate cases under Section 420 IPC were registered against Hamud in 2000 based on complaints from investors who collectively lost over Rs 40 lakh. However, authorities believe the actual fraud amount could be substantially higher as the investigation continues.

The official confirmed that Hamud had successfully evaded arrest since the cases were filed. "In 2019, authorities announced a Rs 10,000 reward for information leading to his capture, but he remained untraceable until now. His arrest in Hyderabad is part of our special drive to apprehend long-wanted criminals," she added.

Sources indicate Hamud employed elaborate measures to avoid detection, including having gas cylinders delivered to alternate addresses to prevent authorities from tracking his whereabouts.

While Hamud faces multiple fraud cases and an older rioting case, police clarified that his elder brother Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui has not been implicated in any of the Mhow investigations.

Local residents recall that Jawad initially established Al-Falah Investment from their family home in Kayastha Mohalla during the early 1990s. After Jawad relocated to Delhi, Hamud launched Al-Fahad Fincom, which subsequently became embroiled in fraud allegations. The brothers allegedly targeted investors, including retired military personnel, with promises of doubling their investments before fleeing Mhow with their families.

Police officials indicate Hamud also faces fraud charges in Indore and potentially Bhopal. Investigators tracked him to Hyderabad through family connections, leading to his eventual arrest.

In the three Mhow cases alone, authorities estimate approximately Rs 35 lakh was misappropriated, though the total fraud across multiple states may be considerably higher. Investigators noted that Hamud had severed contact with family members after leaving Mhow.

This arrest coincides with increased national scrutiny of Al-Falah University following the November 10 car explosion near Delhi's Red Fort that resulted in 13 fatalities. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) visited Burhanpur on November 15 as part of their broader investigation, although they did not engage with local police.

Dr. Umar Nabi, the primary suspect in the blast, was employed as a teacher at Al-Falah University, further intensifying focus on the institution's leadership.

The Siddiqui family has deep roots in Mhow. Jawad's father, Mohammad Hammad Siddiqui, served as the city's Qazi. Jawad himself holds a B.Tech degree from an Indore college and attempted the Civil Services examination three times. The family's four-story ancestral residence, locally known as 'Maulana's Building,' remains a prominent landmark in the area.

Today, Al-Falah University operates three educational institutions: the Al-Falah School of Engineering and Technology, Brown Hill College of Engineering and Technology, and the Al-Falah School of Education and Training. The university also manages a 600-bed hospital staffed by physicians trained at its medical college. The institution received University Grants Commission (UGC) approval in 2015.