ED Apprehends Samajwadi Party Leader Azam Khan in Money-Laundering Probe
Enforcement Directorate apprehends SP leader Azam Khan in a money-laundering probe involving Mohammad Ali Jauhar University.
In a dramatic turn of events, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has apprehended Samajwadi Party leader Mohammad Azam Khan in connection with an ongoing money-laundering investigation. The action took place on Saturday, immediately after the veteran politician was released from the Rampur Jail.
The federal agency's team from the Lucknow zonal office had strategically positioned themselves at the Rampur district jail, taking Azam Khan into custody the moment he stepped outside the jail premises. He is scheduled to be produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, on Sunday.
The Core of the Investigation
The probe centers around the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, a private institution in Rampur founded by Azam Khan in 2006. The ED is investigating allegations regarding the diversion of government contract funds.
According to officials, the agency believes that certain contractors who benefited from government contracts diverted funds toward the trust and the university. These diverted funds were allegedly used for substantial donations and construction works, effectively creating assets for the trust and the university through the proceeds of crime.
Timeline of ED Actions
- August 19: The ED conducted extensive searches at ten different premises across Delhi, Rampur, and Saharanpur, including the university and trust offices.
- October 13: ED officials questioned Azam Khan inside the barrack where he was lodged at Rampur Jail, recording his statement as part of the probe.
- October 28: The agency attached the land and buildings of the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University. While the book value was listed at Rs 426 crore, the estimated current market value is approximately Rs 1,170 crore.
- October 31: Azam Khan was apprehended immediately upon his release from jail.
Legal Battles and Political Standing
Azam Khan, a 10-time MLA from Rampur Sadar and a former Cabinet Minister, has long been one of the most influential Muslim faces of the Samajwadi Party. However, his recent years have been marked by significant legal turmoil.
He had been lodged in the Rampur district jail since November of last year following a conviction in a forgery case. Additionally, he was sentenced to two years in prison for making objectionable remarks—specifically referring to "cleaning shoes"—against government officials, including the then Collector-cum-District Magistrate, during the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign.
The Scale of the Crackdown
The ED's investigation was initiated based on 26 FIRs registered at the Azeem Nagar Police Station in Rampur under Section 384 of the Indian Penal Code. The agency is now focused on tracing financial records, digital evidence, and the overall trail of the alleged diversion of government funds.
The University campus, located at Jauhar Nagar in Singhankhera village, is held by the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which is controlled by Azam Khan, who also serves as the university's honorary Chancellor.