Lucknow, October 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached land and buildings belonging to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur district of Uttar Pradesh, valued at ₹426.46 crore, in connection with a money laundering investigation involving the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, Samajwadi Party leader and former minister Mohammad Azam Khan, and others.
According to an official statement issued on Wednesday, the attached properties have an estimated current market value of approximately ₹1,170 crore.
The university campus, located in Jauhar Nagar in Singhankhera village of Rampur, is owned by the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which was founded and is controlled by Azam Khan. He also serves as the university’s honorary Chancellor.
The investigation stems 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 the 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 intended for public works were allegedly diverted to the university, government-funded projects were executed on the 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 of 28 additional FIRs registered against Azam Khan and others in Rampur. These cases include allegations that several houses were demolished in 2016 and that construction materials and equipment associated with public projects were diverted for use on the university campus. The allegations form part of charge sheets filed by the police.
The agency further stated that contractors involved in government projects had admitted to supplying construction materials and funds for the university.
The ED alleged that proceeds generated through illegal activities were used to acquire land and finance the construction and development of the university and its associated assets.
A valuation conducted by the District Valuation Officer assessed the total cost of the university campus, comprising 59 buildings and land acquired through 114 sale deeds, at ₹499.09 crore. However, the trust reportedly declared only ₹78.32 crore as capital expenditure in its income tax filings.
After examining the available records, the ED concluded that legitimate sources could account for only ₹72.63 crore of the campus cost, leaving ₹426.46 crore as alleged proceeds of crime.
The agency also alleged that development works worth ₹6.60 crore were carried out on the campus using funds from MLA and MLC local area development schemes. In addition, government sanctions amounting to ₹23.41 crore were reportedly granted for infrastructure projects on the private campus.
The ED claimed that subsequent modifications to government orders resulted in public assets being transferred to the university.
Based on its findings, the agency provisionally attached the university’s land and buildings to the extent of the alleged proceeds of crime, valued at ₹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 ED said.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
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