A Delhi court has granted two weeks’ interim bail to Al-Falah group chairman Jawed Siddiqui in a money laundering case so that he can care for his wife, who is undergoing treatment for stage-4 ovarian cancer.
The relief was granted on Saturday, March 7, by Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan, who noted that Siddiqui’s wife is currently receiving chemotherapy at a hospital in Delhi and requires support during the course of her treatment.
In its order, the court observed that the medical records submitted regarding her condition were not disputed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). It also took into account that the couple’s three children are studying in the United Arab Emirates and are unable to travel to India at present, leaving the woman without immediate family support.
The judge noted that, given the circumstances, Siddiqui’s presence was necessary to care for his ailing spouse. The court therefore allowed his temporary release for two weeks, subject to certain conditions.
Siddiqui was directed to furnish a personal bond of ₹1 lakh along with a surety of the same amount. He has also been instructed not to leave the Delhi-NCR region without prior permission of the court, to keep his mobile phone operational at all times, and to surrender his passport. The court further barred him from contacting witnesses or the complainant during the period of interim bail.
The Enforcement Directorate had opposed the application, arguing that the allegations against Siddiqui were serious and expressing concern that his release could potentially affect the ongoing investigation. However, the court noted that Siddiqui has cooperated with investigators and had not attempted to evade the process of law so far. It added that any concerns could be addressed by imposing strict conditions on his release.
Siddiqui was arrested by the ED on November 18, 2025, in connection with a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The investigation is linked to allegations of cheating students enrolled in institutions run by the Al-Falah Charitable Trust. Earlier, on February 5, the agency also arrested him on charges of forgery related to alleged irregularities in the functioning of a private university.
The money laundering probe stems from two FIRs registered by the Delhi Police Crime Branch. According to investigators, Al-Falah University allegedly misrepresented its accreditation status, claiming recognition from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) in order to attract students.
The ED has alleged that the institution generated more than ₹415 crore between 2018 and 2025, and that funds collected from students were diverted for personal use.
The university has also come under scrutiny in a separate investigation described by authorities as a “white-collar terror” case. Two doctors associated with the institution were arrested in that probe, while another doctor linked to its hospital, Umar-un-Nabi, was identified by investigators as the suicide bomber in the November 10 explosion outside Delhi’s Red Fort that left 15 people dead.
