New Delhi: The ED told a court that Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, the chairman of the Al Falah group, had "incentives" to leave India because he received at least ₹415 crore in tainted funds generated "dishonesty" from students of educational institutions run by his trust, and his close family members were settled in Gulf countries.
The federal investigation agency searched the Al Falah University group in Faridabad for a full day before apprehending Siddiqui on Tuesday night. The University is in the center of the investigation into the November 10 explosion in the Red Fort region, which left fifteen people dead and numerous others injured.
The agency requested a 14-day remand for custodial interrogation after he was brought to the home of Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan.He was placed in 13-day ED detention by the court until December 1.
The agency told the court that under Siddiqui's leadership, the institution and its controlling trust made ₹415.10 crore in proceeds of crime by deceitfully persuading parents and students to part with money based on fraudulent claims of accreditation and recognition.
It further stated that Siddiqui's arrest was required because there was fear that he would flee and refuse to cooperate. "The accused has substantial financial resources and influence and has a history of serious economic offenses." He has incentives to leave India, and members of his immediate family have also settled in Gulf nations.

"Given the gravity of the present allegations and the potential consequences under PMLA, there is a reasonable apprehension that if not arrested he may abscond or remain unavailable for effective interrogation, relocate assets and himself beyond the jurisdiction, and continue to delay or obstruct the investigation," the attorney general told the judge.
It claimed that Siddiqui was the managing trustee and founder of the Al Falah charity trust, "controlling the mind" of the organization and exercising de facto authority over Al Falah University and its affiliates. It claimed that in order to identify and measure the whole amount of "proceeds of crime," including those not yet visible in the reported income tax return data, and to facilitate the prompt attachment and seizure under the PMLA, Siddiqui's custody interrogation was required.

Additionally, the ED asserted that Siddiqui could "destroy or alter records" and has "command" over the employees who manage the University's and other Trust-affiliated institutions' admission registers, fee ledgers, finances, and IT systems.
He controls the whole Al Falah educational ecosystem, and just a percentage of the ₹415.10 crore in proceeds of crime have been identified thus far. The ED notified the court that he needed to be remanded.
According to the agency, the Al Falah group as a whole has had a "meteoric rise" since the 1990s, transforming into a sizable educational organization. "However, the financials of the various entities are at variance with the huge amount of assets/wealth accumulated by the group," the company informed the judge.The court granted Siddiqui a 13-day detention to the ED, citing the PMLA's provisions for his arrest, the "gravity" of the crime, and the fact that the investigation was still in its early stages.
In order to launch its case against the Al Falah group under the anti-money laundering law, the ED has taken notice of two Delhi Police FIRs.