ED questions Azam Khan in Delhi in money laundering case linked to Jauhar University

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday began questioning arrested Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan at its headquarters in Delhi in connection with a money laundering case linked to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur, officials said.

Khan, a former Uttar Pradesh minister, was remanded to four days of ED custody by a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ghaziabad on Thursday.

The central agency had arrested the 78-year-old politician outside Rampur jail on October 31, following which he was lodged in Dasna jail in Ghaziabad.

Officials said Khan's questioning and the recording of his statement were being conducted by the ED's Lucknow zonal investigating team at its Delhi headquarters.

They said the former minister was not taken to the agency's Lucknow office, where the money laundering case is registered, because of his advanced age and related medical issues.

𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝟱𝟴 𝗙𝗜𝗥𝘀

The ED registered the money laundering case against Khan and others after taking cognisance of 58 FIRs lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police against him and his alleged associates.

The agency has alleged that government funds earmarked for public works were diverted towards the construction of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, an institution promoted by the SP leader.

According to the ED, Khan allegedly used his influence during his tenure as Uttar Pradesh's cabinet minister for urban development and his association with the UP Jal Nigam to facilitate the purported financial irregularities.

The agency is investigating the alleged diversion of public funds and the acquisition and development of university properties under the provisions of the PMLA.

𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝘀 𝟭,𝟭𝟳𝟬 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱

The ED recently attached land and buildings belonging to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University under the anti-money laundering law.

The agency said the attached assets had a current market value of approximately Rs 1,170 crore.

In July, the Rampur Development Authority ordered the demolition of 38 buildings on the university campus, following which the university filed an appeal challenging the directive.

The ED had also conducted searches in connection with the case in August and questioned Khan as part of its investigation.

𝗔𝗸𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗵 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗮

SP president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP-led government of targeting Khan through politically motivated investigations.

Yadav alleged that false cases had been registered against his former cabinet colleague as part of a political vendetta.

The allegations have been made amid the ED's continuing investigation into the financial transactions and properties associated with the university.

𝗕𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁

Following his arrest by the ED, Khan approached the Supreme Court seeking bail in the money laundering case.

However, the apex court declined to entertain his plea and transferred the petition to the Allahabad High Court.

The Supreme Court urged the Chief Justice of the High Court to list the matter before a division bench for hearing on November 16.

Meanwhile, the ED's questioning of Khan is continuing as investigators examine the alleged financial irregularities associated with the university.