New Delhi, 06 November (H.S.): The Delhi High Court has granted seven days of custody parole to Al Falah University founder and chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, who is in custody in connection with cases linked to the Red Fort blast and alleged money laundering, to enable him to attend to his wife, who is battling cancer.

A Bench of Justice Mini Pushkarna passed the order while hearing Siddiqui’s petition seeking interim bail or, alternatively, custody parole on medical and humanitarian grounds.

Siddiqui submitted that his wife is suffering from Stage IV ovarian cancer and is scheduled to undergo chemotherapy on November 10. During the hearing, the counsel appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed his interim release or custody parole, arguing that the allegations against him were serious. The agency had also opposed the interim bail plea on the grounds that he posed a flight risk.

The court had issued a notice to the ED on November 5. Siddiqui had sought interim bail or custody parole to assist in his wife’s treatment, which is currently underway.

Siddiqui was arrested by the ED on November 18, 2025. The Faridabad-based Al Falah University had come under the scrutiny of investigating agencies following the Red Fort blast. Three doctors arrested in connection with the blast were reported to have links with the university, prompting agencies to initiate an investigation into the institution. The ED arrested Siddiqui in connection with alleged terror funding and money laundering.

On January 16, 2026, the ED filed a prosecution complaint against Siddiqui and the Al Falah Charitable Trust. The agency initiated its investigation after the Delhi Police Crime Branch registered two FIRs in connection with the matter.

The FIRs alleged that Al Falah University had made false claims of accreditation by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). The ED has also stated that it had provisionally attached properties belonging to Al Falah University under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The blast occurred on November 10, 2025, when an i10 car exploded near the Red Fort. The vehicle was registered in the name of Amir Rashid Ali. According to the information provided in the report, 13 people were killed and 32 others injured in the explosion.

The University Grants Commission (UGC) had also lodged a complaint against Al Falah University, following which the Delhi Police Crime Branch registered two FIRs against Siddiqui and arrested him in connection with the alleged irregularities.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar