Ghaziabad, October 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Mohammad Azam Khan in a money laundering case linked to the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, an official said on Saturday.
Azam Khan is expected to be produced before the Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Ghaziabad for custody proceedings, the official said.
The arrest comes after the ED provisionally attached land and buildings belonging to the university in Rampur district, Uttar Pradesh, valued at Rs 426.46 crore, as part of its investigation into alleged money laundering involving the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, Azam Khan and others.
The university’s campus has an estimated current market value of around Rs 1,170 crore, according to the agency.
Located at Jauhar Nagar in Singhankhera village of Rampur, the campus is owned by the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, founded and controlled by Azam Khan. He also serves as the university’s honorary Chancellor, the ED said.
The investigation originated from 26 FIRs registered at Azeem Nagar police station in Rampur, alleging that agricultural land belonging to farmers was forcibly acquired for the university.
The ED said inquiries by the district administration also revealed that nearly 34 acres of enemy property in Singhankhera village had allegedly been occupied for the university despite cancellation of the land lease. The land has since been recovered by the Custodian of Enemy Property through the district administration.
According to the agency, its investigation found that funds meant for public works were allegedly diverted to the university, government-funded projects were executed on its private campus, and money received by contractors for government projects was routed back to the trust as donations.
The ED has also taken up the investigation into 28 additional FIRs registered against Azam Khan and others in Rampur. These cases include allegations that several houses were demolished in 2016 and materials and equipment meant for public projects were diverted for use at the university. The allegations form part of charge sheets filed by the police.
The agency said contractors involved in government projects had admitted to supplying construction materials and funds for the university.
The ED further alleged that proceeds generated through illegal activities were used to acquire, construct and develop the university and its associated assets.
A valuation conducted by the District Valuation Officer estimated the total cost of the campus, comprising 59 buildings and land acquired through 114 sale deeds, at Rs 499.09 crore. However, the trust reportedly declared only Rs 78.32 crore as capital expenditure in its income tax filings.
After examining the records, the ED concluded that legitimate sources could account for only Rs 72.63 crore of the campus cost, leaving Rs 426.46 crore as alleged proceeds of crime.
The agency also alleged that works worth Rs 6.60 crore were carried out on the campus using MLA and MLC local area development funds. Government sanctions amounting to Rs 23.41 crore were also granted for infrastructure projects on the private campus, it said.
The ED claimed that subsequent modifications to government orders resulted in public assets being transferred to the university.
Based on these findings, the agency attached the university’s land and buildings to the extent of the alleged proceeds of crime of Rs 426.46 crore.
Searches conducted at the university and related premises on August 19, 2026, led to the seizure of electronic devices and documents, the agency said.
Azam Khan’s arrest comes days after the Allahabad High Court granted bail to him and his son Abdullah Khan and suspended their sentences in the dual PAN card case on Thursday.
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