ED Raids Multiple Locations Linked To Al-Falah University Amid Terror Probe; Funding Under Scanner

The Enforcement Directorate has launched searches in at least 25 locations linked to Al-Falah University’s trustees and associates as part of its probe into the varsity’s funding.

New Delhi: Officials at the site after Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducts a raid at the Delhi office of Al Falah University in Okhla (Photo: PTI)

The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday conducted searches in at least 25 locations across Delhi-NCR as it began its probe into the funding of Haryana’s Al-Falah University, in connection with the Faridabad terror module and the Delhi car blast case.

According to the details, the probe agency was conducting searches on the premises of the trustees and other persons related to the University.

The raids began at nearly 5 am today.

Nine shell companies linked to the Al-Falah group, all registered at a single address, are under examination. Early findings point to multiple risk indicators consistent with shell-company behaviour, including –

  • No physical presence or meaningful utility consumption at declared places of business.
  • Common mobile number and email across various companies and accounts.
  • Absence of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation/Employees’ State Insurance Corporation filings is inconsistent with the reported scale of operations.
  • Overlapping directors/signatories and weak KYC trails across entities.
  • Minimal salary disbursal through banking channels and absence of HR records.
  • Synchronised incorporation patterns and common contact coordinates across firms.

In addition, prima facie discrepancies have been noted in claims regarding the University’s UGC and NAAC recognition.

Several suspects linked to the November 10 car blast near the Red Fort in Delhi are believed to have had associations with the University, prompting investigators to examine institutional records, financial transactions and administrative approvals.

Some doctors have also been arrested from the University in connection with the November 10 high-intensity blast near the Red Fort in Delhi, which claimed 13 lives and injured several others.

Notably, the Delhi blast prime accused, Dr Umar Un Nabi, was a student of Al Falah University.

On November 13, a show-cause notice was issued to the University, which has emerged as the epicentre of the terror module. The University is neither accredited nor has applied for accreditation.

The website of the University was also taken down.

Investigators are expected to focus on funds routed through the institution and any suspicious monetary exchanges involving individuals already under investigation in the case, it was known.

Other central and state agencies were also learnt to be coordinating with the ED to examine whether the University’s accounts or associated entities were used to channel money for the planning or execution of the attack.

The University recently issued a statement condemning the Delhi blast, and said it is a responsible institution and stands in solidarity with the nation.

Source : https://www.news18.com/india/al-falah-university-funding-probe-ed-raids-multiple-locations-delhi-red-fort-car-blast-faridabad-terror-module-9714670.html

 

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