Al-Falah Trust case: Delhi HC transfers Jawad Siddiqui’s interim bail pleas to Justice Saurabh Banerjee

New Delhi, July 8 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday ordered the transfer of two interim bail applications filed by Al-Falah Trust money laundering case accused Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui to the Bench of Justice Saurabh Banerjee, before whom his regular bail plea in one of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) cases is also pending.

The interim bail applications, arising out of two separate ED cases, were listed before the Benches of Justice Manoj Jain and Justice Madhu Jain.

Appearing for Siddiqui, counsel sought transfer of both matters to the Bench of Justice Saurabh Banerjee, submitting that the regular bail application in one of the ED cases was also listed before the same judge on Wednesday.

Both Benches allowed the request, and the interim bail applications now stand transferred to Justice Saurabh Banerjee. The matters are scheduled to be taken up on Thursday.

Siddiqui has sought interim bail on the ground that his wife, Usma Akhtar, is undergoing treatment for cancer and requires his care and support during the ongoing course of treatment.

Separately, Justice Saurabh Banerjee fixed Siddiqui's regular bail application for hearing on July 29 and 30 at 4 p.m. Advocates Vishvendra Tomar, Talib Mustafa and Abhishek Singh appeared on behalf of Siddiqui.

Last month, the Delhi High Court sought a status report from the ED on Siddiqui's plea challenging a trial court order that rejected his request for temporary release. Subsequently, the hearing was deferred after the federal anti-money-laundering agency placed its status report on the record.

Appearing for Siddiqui, senior advocate Vikram Chaudhri had submitted that Akhtar was undergoing treatment for Stage-IV ovarian cancer and that Siddiqui was her primary caregiver.

Seeking six weeks' interim bail, Siddiqui had contended that he needed to be with his wife during the ongoing phase of her treatment. Opposing the plea, the ED had argued that the petition was not maintainable and resisted the grant of interim bail.

Earlier, an Additional Sessions Judge at Saket Courts had dismissed Siddiqui's interim bail applications after examining his wife's medical records and the rival submissions.

In its order passed on June 9, the Special Court observed that while it was undisputed that Akhtar was suffering from Stage-IV cancer, the medical records placed before it did not indicate any immediate life-threatening condition or emergency warranting interim bail.

The court said that medical documents described her disease as "stable" and recorded a "good response to treatment".

Rejecting the plea, the Special Court said Siddiqui had failed to establish that his wife was terminally ill, incapable of managing her daily routine, or that no alternative caregiver was available to assist her.

According to the ED, the money laundering investigation stems from multiple FIRs registered by the Delhi Police alleging cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy in connection with the operations of Al-Falah University and its associated entities.

The ED has alleged that Al-Falah University falsely projected expired NAAC accreditations as valid and claimed non-existent UGC recognition, while its medical college was allegedly involved in irregularities to secure approvals from the National Medical Commission (NMC).

The federal financial agency has claimed that its investigation revealed the generation of proceeds of crime worth Rs 493.24 crore between 2016-17 and 2024-25, which were allegedly diverted through entities linked to Siddiqui and his family members.

Earlier this year, the ED attached assets worth Rs 39.45 crore belonging to Al-Falah Charitable Trust and Siddiqui, besides attaching varsity land and buildings valued at more than Rs 144 crore as part of the probe.

Source: IANS