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A Delhi court on Saturday (March 7, 2026) granted Al-Falah Group chairman Jawed Siddiqui two weeks’ interim bail in a money laundering case to enable him take care of his wife, who is undergoing treatment for stage 4 ovarian cancer.
Another session of Justice Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan granted relief to Siddiqui, saying that his wife had undergone chemotherapy and needed support during the treatment.
“Having considered all the present facts and circumstances, I am of the opinion that the complainant/accused deserves to be granted interim bail as the wife of the complainant/accused is unwell,” the court said in its order.
He noted that Siddiqui’s wife underwent chemotherapy at a Delhi hospital and that the medical documents placed on record were not challenged by the enforcement directorate.
It also found that the couple’s three children were studying in the UAE and could not travel to India, leaving the woman without direct family support.
“The accused/complainant’s wife requires care and support, it cannot be ignored and it is also a fact that apart from her she has no family or children and only the accused/complainant who is her husband is required to support her,” the court said.
Siddiqui, who was arrested on 18 November 2025 in a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and linked to alleged cheating of students enrolled in institutions run by the Al Falah Charitable Trust, was granted two weeks’ interim bail on furnishing a personal bond and surety bond of ₹1 lakh each.
The court ordered him not to leave Delhi-NCR without permission, keep his mobile phone active, surrender his passport and not contact witnesses or complainants during his release.
The ED had opposed the plea claiming that Siddiqui was involved in serious crimes and could have influenced the investigation, but the court said the accused had joined the investigation and had not tried to escape so far. It said any other concerns could be addressed by imposing conditions.
On February 5, the agency arrested Siddiqui on charges of forgery over alleged irregularities in the functioning of a private university. He was brought to court on Friday (March 6, 2026) after his earlier 14-day remand granted on January 31 ended.
The ED probe into the money laundering case stems from two FIRs by the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch, which alleged that Al Falah University falsely assumed NAAC accreditation and UGC recognition to mislead students and parents.
The ED claims that the university generated ₹415.10 crore between 2018 and 2025 and that funds collected from students were diverted for personal use.
The university has also come under scrutiny in the “white-collar terror” investigation in which two doctors associated with it have been arrested, while another doctor, Umar-un-Nabi, associated with its hospital, has been identified as the suicide bomber in the November 10 blast at Red Fort that killed 15 people.
Published – March 8, 2026 08:17 IST
