New Delhi: A Delhi court has sent Al Falah Group Chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui to the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for 13 days till December 1. In a detailed remand order, the court noted that there are reasonable grounds to believe that he has committed the offence of large-scale cheating, false claims of affiliation and money laundering related to diversion of funds from the ecosystem of Al Falah University.
The order passed by Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan at her camp office shortly after midnight recorded that Siddiqui was arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)1 late on the night of November 18. The ED had sought custodial interrogation on the basis of strong evidence of fraud, misrepresentation and movement of suspected proceeds of crime.
After examining the arguments of the ED, the court said that the investigation is at an early stage. The alleged financial offences are serious and custodial interrogation is necessary to unearth further proceeds of crime, prevent disposal of tainted assets and avoid influencing witnesses or destroying electronic and financial records.
The Enforcement Directorate had on November 18 arrested Siddiqui under Section 19 of PMLA 2 in connection with alleged money laundering linked to Al-Falah Charitable Trust. The ED's action came after two FIRs were registered by the Crime Branch of Delhi Police on November 13.