Azam Khan Moves Supreme Court to Challenge ED Arrest
Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan challenges his ED arrest in a money laundering case involving Jauhar University. Read more on the legal battle.
Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan has approached the Supreme Court of India, filing a petition to challenge his recent arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a high-profile money laundering investigation. The legal move comes as Khan seeks relief from the judicial custody imposed following a dramatic sequence of events in late October.
A Dramatic Arrest
The circumstances surrounding the arrest have drawn significant attention. On October 31, 2026, Azam Khan was released from Rampur jail in connection with a separate legal matter involving the alleged use of 'dual PAN cards'. However, his freedom was short-lived; barely 40 minutes after stepping out of the jail, he was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate.
Following the arrest, Khan was produced before a special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court in Ghaziabad. On November 1, 2026, the court remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.
The Legal Battle in the Apex Court
On Monday, November 2, 2026, advocate Nizam Pasha, representing the SP leader, presented the matter before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana. The legal team urged the court to grant an urgent hearing to contest the validity of the arrest.
While the Supreme Court declined the request for an immediate hearing, the bench has agreed to list the petition for a formal hearing later this week.
The Allegations: Funds and Land
The Enforcement Directorate's investigation centers on allegations involving the Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust. The agency claims that government funds, which were specifically earmarked for public works, were instead diverted to fund the construction of the private Jauhar University.
Furthermore, the investigation suggests that agricultural land was forcibly occupied to facilitate the university's development. These allegations are based on several First Information Reports (FIRs) originally lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Police.
Massive Asset Attachment
The scale of the crackdown became evident on October 28, just days before Khan's arrest, when the Enforcement Directorate attached assets belonging to the university. The estimated value of the attached properties stands at a staggering Rs 1,170 crore.