Samajwadi Party’s Azam Khan sent to 14-day judicial custody

Veteran Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan was arrested and remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ghaziabad on Sunday (November 1, 2026).

The ED had initiated an investigation based on 26 First Information Reports (FIRs) registered by the U.P. Police at the Azeem Nagar police station, Rampur, in July 2019, against Mr. Khan and others, under Sections 323, 342, 384, 447, 504 and 506 of the erstwhile Indian Penal Code, 1860. The FIRs alleged that agricultural land belonging to farmers in Singankhera village, Rampur had been forcibly occupied for the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University. Farmers were coerced through assault, unlawful confinement, and threats into executing sale deeds in favour of the university, it is alleged.

“Directorate of Enforcement, Lucknow Zonal Office, has arrested Mohammad Azam Khan, founder of Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and Chancellor of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, Rampur, on 31.10.2026 under the provisions of the PMLA, 2002, in the money laundering case. He has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by the Hon’ble Special PMLA Court, Ghaziabad,” the official statement issued by the ED states.

“During the investigation, the ED found that the funds and material meant for public works were diverted to the university, government works were executed on its private campus, and funds from contractors who had been allotted government contracts were routed back to the Trust as donations. On the ED’s information, an FIR under the provisions of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita), 2023 and the PC (Prevention of Corruption) Act, 1988 was registered on 13.10.2026, and 28 other FIRs registered at Rampur for robbery, extortion, cheating and forgery were also taken up for investigation,” the statement added.

“In this case, ED has also provisionally attached the land and buildings of the University, held by the Trust, to the extent of ₹426.46 crore under the provisions of PMLA on 28.10.2026. The present value of the attached property is around ₹1,170 crore,” it said.

Searches were also conducted at the university and related premises at Rampur by the ED in August 2026 under the provisions of the PMLA. During the course of the searches, incriminating documents and electronic devices were seized, according to the ED. The probe into the matter is continuing.