Al-Falah University Founder Faces Terror Financing and Land Grab Allegations: A Deepening Investigation

Al-Falah University founder Javed Ahmed Siddiqui (File).

New Delhi:

The Enforcement Directorate recently arrested Al-Falah University founder and managing trustee Javed Ahmed Siddiqui on terrorism financing charges. Now, he faces additional allegations regarding illegal acquisition of agricultural land near Delhi's Madanpur Khadar area.

Siddiqui's university is under investigation for potential connections to the November 10 explosion near Delhi's Red Fort, where an ammonium nitrate fuel oil-filled Hyundai i20 detonated, killing fifteen people. Three key suspects in the attack, all physicians, were employed at the institution located in Haryana's Faridabad.

In the land acquisition case, multiple individuals have accused the Tarbia Education Foundation of document forgery, particularly regarding power of attorney papers, to falsely claim ownership and illegally occupy their property. Documents reviewed by NDTV indicate that Siddiqui serves as the Foundation's Director.

NDTV has contacted both Siddiqui and the foundation for comment and will update this report upon receiving a response.

Complainants allege that Siddiqui leveraged his position and influence to actively participate in the land appropriation scheme, including forging signatures of deceased individuals.

NDTV's preliminary investigation suggests that among the 65 people whose lands were allegedly misappropriated, approximately 30 were already deceased when their 'signatures' appeared on documents, primarily during 2003-2004.

Kuldeep Singh Bidhuri, one complainant, informed NDTV that documents for several land parcels owned by his family members had been falsified, showing signatures of relatives who had died years earlier. "Threats and attempts to compromise were used to force the family to withdraw from the dispute. Despite complaints, no action was taken by local authorities."

The Bidhuri family reportedly lost 1.146 acres of land to the Tarbia Education Foundation.

Dharmendra Bidhuri, another complainant who spoke with NDTV, stated that land belonging to his great-grandfather, Nathu Singh, was re-registered in 2013/14 using a power of attorney filed in 2004. The document appeared to bear Singh's signature, but according to Bidhuri, his relative had died in 1972.

"This land belonged to my great-grandfather... it is our ancestral land. But now Javed Siddiqui and his men have captured it. We have been fighting but we are still struggling."

"We belong to a poor family and this land was a support system," he added.

NDTV visited some of the allegedly misappropriated land parcels and interviewed nearby residents. They reported witnessing suspicious activities, including vehicles moving late at night and a sign previously advertising the Tarbia Education Foundation that had been painted over in black.

In the aftermath of the Red Fort blast, Siddiqui and Al-Falah University have faced intensified scrutiny regarding their operations and financial dealings.

According to the Enforcement Directorate's statement to a Delhi court last week, Siddiqui received at least Rs 415 crore in illegal payments from parents of students attending colleges owned by his organization. These parents were reportedly deceived into making payments based on false claims of accreditation and recognition.

A previous criminal case involving Siddiqui has also resurfaced, in which he and an associate were accused of fraud amounting to Rs 7.5 crore, resulting in a three-year imprisonment.

However, Mohd Razi, the university's legal advisor, has denied all fraud allegations against Siddiqui, including the Rs 7.5 crore claim. Razi also informed NDTV that Siddiqui had "no information" regarding the recruitment of Dr. Muzammil Shakeel, one of the arrested suspects in the Red Fort blast case. According to Razi, hiring and vetting new employees falls under the Vice-Chancellor's responsibilities.