The Delhi Police Crime Branch has taken significant steps in the investigation of the November 10 Red Fort blast by summoning Al Falah University chairman Javed Ahmed Siddiqui. This development comes amid growing concerns about alleged fraud and irregularities at the Faridabad-based university where the primary blast accused were employed.
University Under Scrutiny
The Crime Branch issued an official notice to Siddiqui under Section 12(B) of the UGC Act, requiring him to appear with comprehensive documentation relating to the accreditation and funding of the Al Falah Charitable Trust. This trust oversees nine organizations, including the Al Falah Medical Research Foundation where blast accused Umar Nabi and Muzammil Ganai were employed before the tragic incident.
Official sources confirmed that Siddiqui has been directed to submit all records concerning his firm, the trust, and the university's accreditation status with the University Grants Commission. The notice represents a crucial escalation in the probe connecting educational institution irregularities with the terror attack that claimed at least 10 lives.
Accreditation and Membership Suspended
The investigation gained momentum after the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) issued a formal notice to Al Falah University stating that its accreditation had expired and questioning why legal action shouldn't be initiated against the institution. The NAAC functions as an autonomous body under the UGC responsible for assessing the quality status of higher educational institutions across India.
In a parallel development, the Association of Indian Universities has suspended Al Falah University's membership citing serious concerns about the institution's lack of "good standing." The AIU has directed the university to immediately remove its name and logo from all platforms and promotional materials.
Terror Links and Previous Criminal Record
Investigators have uncovered disturbing evidence that the planning for the terror attack was conducted on the Al Falah University campus by accused individuals Umar and Muzammil. This revelation has intensified scrutiny of the institution's operations and security protocols.
The case took a dramatic turn when Jammu and Kashmir Police conducted raids in Faridabad, recovering a massive cache of 2,900 kg of explosives and bomb-making materials. Following this discovery, Umar fled to Nuh in his explosives-laden Hyundai i20 vehicle before returning to Delhi on November 10, the day the vehicle exploded at the historic Red Fort.
Further investigation into Siddiqui's background revealed a previous criminal case from 2000 involving alleged investment fraud in New Friends Colony, south-east Delhi. Siddiqui was arrested in 2001 and granted bail in 2004 on the condition that he would refund the affected investors. The Crime Branch has indicated it will review these previous allegations as part of the current investigation.
The Al Falah Medical Research Foundation, which is now the focus of the criminal probe, operates within the university's 70-acre campus in Dhauj village, Faridabad. A Crime Branch team visited the institution's Okhla headquarters in Delhi on Saturday as part of the ongoing evidence collection process.
