ED Produces Azam Khan Before PMLA Court in Ghaziabad
Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan is produced before a PMLA court in Ghaziabad following his apprehension by the ED in a money laundering probe.
In a major development in an ongoing money-laundering investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) brought Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan to Ghaziabad on Sunday to produce him before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) Court. The high-profile politician was apprehended by federal officials just as he stepped out of the Rampur Jail.
A Swift Apprehension
The operation was meticulously timed. A team from the ED's Lucknow zonal office arrived at the Rampur district jail specifically to intercept the 10-time MLA. As soon as Azam Khan was released from the jail premises on Saturday, October 31, he was taken into custody by the agency.
This move follows a series of intense probes. On October 13, the ED had already questioned the former Cabinet minister inside his jail barrack, recording his statement as part of a wider investigation into financial irregularities.
The Core of the Investigation: Diversion of Funds
The ED is investigating allegations regarding the diversion of government contract funds. According to agency officials, funds meant for government contracts were allegedly routed through private contractors and subsequently diverted to benefit the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and Mohammad Ali Jauhar University.
The agency claims that these diverted funds were used for the creation of assets, appearing in the form of substantial donations and construction works for the university and trust, both of which were founded by Azam Khan in 2006.
Raids and Asset Attachments
The apprehension is the culmination of months of scrutiny. On August 19, the ED conducted extensive searches across ten different premises in Delhi, Rampur, and Saharanpur. These raids were carried out under Section 17 of the PMLA, 2002.
The financial crackdown intensified recently. On October 28, the ED attached the land and buildings of the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University. While the book value of these assets is listed at Rs 426 crore, the agency estimates their current market value to be a staggering Rs 1,170 crore.
Legal Battles and Political Standing
Azam Khan, one of the most influential Muslim faces of the Samajwadi Party, has faced a barrage of legal challenges. He had been lodged in Rampur district jail since November of last year following a conviction in a forgery case.
Additionally, he was sentenced to two years in prison over a controversial "cleaning shoes" remark directed at government officials, including the then Collector-cum-District Magistrate, during the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign.
The production of the veteran leader before the special PMLA court in Ghaziabad marks a critical juncture in the agency's effort to trace the money trail linked to the university and the trust.