RAMPUR / SAHARANPUR / NEW DELHI | August 19, 2026
ED Launches Searches Across Uttar Pradesh and Delhi
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at around 10 locations across Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in connection with a money-laundering investigation linked to jailed Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, his Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur.
The searches began early in the morning and covered premises in Rampur and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, including locations associated with the trust and university. The operation is being conducted by the ED’s Lucknow zonal office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
What Is the ED Investigating?
According to officials, the investigation centres on allegations that funds from government contracts were allegedly diverted through private contractors and subsequently transferred towards the trust and university.
Investigators are examining financial transactions involving contractors who allegedly benefited from government contracts and later made payments or donations connected with the trust and construction activities at the university.
The ED’s searches are aimed at tracing the alleged proceeds of crime and collecting financial records, documents and digital evidence that could help investigators establish the flow and use of the funds.
Jauhar University at the Centre of the Probe
The Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, founded by Azam Khan in 2006, is operated by the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust.
The university campus in Rampur was among the locations searched by the ED on Wednesday. Other premises reportedly include those connected with a chartered accountant in Saharanpur, as well as companies and promoters allegedly linked to the trust.
Azam Khan is the principal trustee of the Lucknow-headquartered trust, alongside family members and associates. The trust also operates a public school in Rampur.
Searches Conducted Under PMLA
The ED action has been carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
Multiple teams have been deployed for the searches, with security personnel assisting the operation at various locations. Officials are examining records and electronic evidence connected to the financial transactions under investigation.
As of the latest reports, the agency had not publicly disclosed any confirmed seizure resulting from Wednesday’s searches. The investigation remains ongoing.
University Already Facing Separate Legal Dispute
The ED searches come amid a separate controversy involving the Jauhar University campus.
In July, the Rampur Development Authority directed the university to demolish 38 of its 40 buildings, alleging that the structures had been constructed without the required approved building plans.
The proposed demolition subsequently faced opposition, including from students concerned about disruption to their education. A divisional commissioner later stayed the proposed demolition pending further proceedings.
The latest ED operation adds another layer of legal pressure around the institution.
Political Reactions Expected
The searches are likely to generate political debate in Uttar Pradesh, with the Samajwadi Party and supporters of Azam Khan having previously raised concerns over actions against the university.
Azam Khan is currently in jail, while the Jauhar University issue has remained a politically sensitive matter in the state. His wife, Tazeen Fatma, recently appealed to the Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider the proposed demolition, citing the interests of students and the public.
However, the allegations being examined by the ED have not been established as proven wrongdoing, and the investigation is still underway.
Investigation Continues
The ED’s latest searches represent a significant escalation in its investigation into the alleged financial transactions involving Azam Khan’s trust and the Jauhar University.
Investigators are now expected to examine the documents and digital evidence collected during the operation and trace the alleged movement of government-contract funds.
The outcome of the searches and any further action by the agency will determine the next stage of the money-laundering investigation.
Source: The Indian Express, The New Indian Express, PTI, Economic Times, The Statesman.
Original Report: Supreme News Network (SSN)
