Al-Falah University and the Red Fort Blast: A Shocking Allegation
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recently made serious allegations against Al-Falah University, located in Faridabad. According to reports by PTI, three doctors linked to this institution have been accused of involvement in a blast that took place near Delhi’s iconic Red Fort on November 10, 2022. The shocking claim is that these doctors were hired by the university without any police verification.
The Suspects
Two of the doctors, Muzammil Ganaie and Shaheen Saeed, have been arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The third doctor, Umar Nabi, is reported to have driven the car that exploded, resulting in the tragic loss of 15 lives. The ED recently filed a chargesheet against Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, the Chairperson of Al-Falah University, and the Al-Falah Charitable Trust, which oversees the institution’s operations.
A Wider Investigation
This university and its founding group were already under investigation concerning the November 10 blast. Siddiqui was arrested on November 18 and is currently in judicial custody. In a significant move, the ED has also provisionally attached assets worth around ₹140 crore owned by Al-Falah University. This raises important questions about the institution’s practices and accountability.
According to the chargesheet, the university supposedly employed these doctors “on paper.” This means they were listed under misleading clauses like working only two days a week, which allowed the institution to claim they were regular faculty members. The aim behind this strategy was reportedly to secure approvals from the National Medical Commission, as shared by anonymous officials.
Lack of Background Checks
Bhupinder Kaur Anand, the university’s Vice-Chancellor, has reportedly confirmed to the ED that these doctors were hired based on recommendations made by the head of Human Resources and with Siddiqui’s consent. Alarmingly, no police verification was conducted to check their backgrounds. This lack of scrutiny raises serious safety and ethical concerns.
The ED has pointed out that some doctors were hired on a temporary basis to meet existing regulatory requirements, while others were listed as employees without actually attending classes or seeing patients. These doctors were well aware that they were “on paper staff” and received fake work experience certificates, according to the agency.
Additionally, it has been alleged that fake patients were admitted to the hospital shortly before inspections, and the facility was largely non-functional leading up to evaluations from the National Medical Commission.
Financial Frauds
The allegations go beyond faulty hiring practices. The chargesheet claims that Siddiqui and his Trust misrepresented the university’s accreditation details, deceiving students and generating approximately ₹493.24 crore through illicit fees for tuition and examinations. Certificates for courses were allegedly obtained through fraudulent means from the Haryana government, compounding the deceit.
The Tragic Blast
The Red Fort blast was a significant incident that left 13 people dead. Authorities have classified it as a terrorist attack, and the NIA has since arrested at least nine individuals connected to this case. Just hours before the event, police claimed to have dismantled a “transnational terror module” operating in Faridabad and Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. During investigations, police recovered a staggering 2,900 kg of materials used to make improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
It is important to note that Umar Nabi, the doctor believed to have driven the explosive-laden vehicle, was allegedly involved in planning this attack, using facilities on the Al-Falah Medical College campus, which is a part of Al-Falah University. The vehicle involved in the blast was also reported to have been parked within the campus for nearly 20 days prior to the attack.
Legal Proceedings
Siddiqui, who has been the Chancellor of Al-Falah University since 2014, was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act after investigators uncovered crucial evidence during searches conducted on November 18. The ED’s case stems from two FIRs filed by Delhi Police, which untangled the university’s false claims regarding its accreditation and its eligibility under the University Grants Commission Act.
The investigation continues, raising significant concerns about transparency, accountability, and the safety of educational institutions in India.
Stay updated on this developing story and find more insights here.
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