The ED, Lucknow Zonal Office, conducted search operations at 10 premises across Rampur, Saharanpur, and Delhi on August 19, 2026, under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002. These searches were carried out in connection with an ongoing money-laundering investigation involving alleged illegal land acquisition and the misappropriation of government funds for the construction of buildings at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Rampur. During the searches, incriminating documents and digital records were recovered and seized.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Lucknow Zonal Office conducted searches on 19.08.2026 at 10 premises in Rampur, Saharanpur and Delhi under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 in connection with an ongoing money laundering investigation related to alleged illegal land acquisition and misappropriation of government funds for construction of buildings of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Rampur.
The ED initiated the investigation under the PMLA, 2002 based on 26 FIRs registered by the Uttar Pradesh Police at Police Station Azim Nagar, Rampur and one FIR registered at Police Kotwali, Rampur, alleging offences such as extortion, cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, which are also scheduled offences under the PMLA. According to the said FIRs and investigations by law enforcement agencies, Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Rampur, is accused of illegally acquiring farmers’ land and ‘enemy property’ of the Government of India through its Chancellor, Mohammad Azam Khan, and others.
The ED is investigating the entire money trail relating to the origin, concealment, possession, acquisition and utilisation of the proceeds of crime, including the properties created for the university.
During the search, incriminating documents, records related to fraudulent donations allegedly received by the Trust and digital records related to the investigation have been seized under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002.
Further investigation is ongoing.
Radhika Goyal is Author of Taxconcept Gurugram head office, for deeply reported tax, gst and income tax articles on issues that matter. He splits her time between New Delhi and Bengaluru, and has worked as a reporter, a podcaster and an editor for publications across India.