ED Attaches Azam Khan's Jauhar University Property Worth Rs 1,170 Crore
ED attaches Mohammad Ali Jauhar University property linked to SP leader Azam Khan in a massive money laundering and land grab probe.
In a massive crackdown on alleged financial irregularities and land grabbing, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached the land and buildings of the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University. The property, linked to Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Mohammad Azam Khan, has a book value of Rs 426 crore, but its current market valuation is estimated at a staggering Rs 1,170 crore.
The action was carried out by the ED's Lucknow zonal office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). The attachment is part of an ongoing investigation into the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which is founded and controlled by Azam Khan, who also serves as the university's honorary Chancellor.
Allegations of Land Grabbing and Illegal Occupation
The ED's investigation was triggered by 26 FIRs registered at the Azeem Nagar Police Station in Rampur. These reports allege a pattern of coercion, claiming that agricultural land belonging to local farmers was forcibly seized to expand the university campus in Singhankhera village.
Furthermore, the agency cited a report from the Rampur district administration revealing that Azam Khan illegally occupied 45 plots of "enemy property," spanning approximately 34 acres. This occupation continued even after the custodian had cancelled the lease granted to the Trust. The ED confirmed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), via the district administration, has since reclaimed possession of this land.
Diversion of Public Funds for Private Gain
The probe has uncovered a sophisticated network used to funnel public money into the private university. According to the ED, funds specifically earmarked for public works were diverted to the university's development. In some instances, government-funded projects were executed directly on the private campus.
The agency revealed a "kickback" system involving government contractors. Contractors who were awarded public works projects allegedly routed a portion of those funds back to the Trust under the guise of donations. One specific example involves a company with PWD contracts worth roughly Rs 186 crore; the managing director admitted that 30 to 40 per cent of the contract value was used to purchase construction materials for the university.
Another firm admitted to operating under the influence of Azam Khan and donated Rs 40 lakh to the Trust. Additionally, investigation showed that MLA/MLC local area development funds totaling Rs 6.60 crore were used for works on the private campus, executed by the Uttar Pradesh Jal Nigam.
Bulldozers, Robbery, and Misused Machinery
The ED is also investigating 28 other FIRs that paint a grim picture of events in 2016. It is alleged that a mob, led by the then Circle Officer acting on Azam Khan's instructions, used bulldozers to demolish the homes of several families in Rampur, many of whom were tenants of Waqf property.
The allegations in these charge-sheets are severe:
- Occupants were reportedly assaulted and threatened with fabricated criminal cases.
- Victims were allegedly robbed of their cash, jewellery, and cattle.
- The debris from these demolished homes was transported and used at the university.
- Cleaning machinery purchased for the Rampur Nagar Palika was diverted for use on the university premises.
Legal Repercussions
Following the ED's findings, the Uttar Pradesh Police registered a fresh FIR on October 13, 2026, against Azam Khan and the Trust under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The legal pressure has mounted further as the Income Tax Department has revoked the registration of the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust under the Income Tax Act, 1961, following similar findings of irregularity.