The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached the 121-acre Glocal University, valued at Rs 4,440 crore, in a major money laundering case linked to illegal sand mining. The university, located in Saharanpur, was established by former MLC Haji Mohammad Iqbal under the Abdul Waheed Educational and Charitable Trust.
The ED’s Lucknow zonal office initiated this action based on an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The FIR pertains to the illegal renewal of sand mining leases in Saharanpur, which implicates numerous individuals and officials.
The primary accused, Haji Mohammad Iqbal, now declared a fugitive and believed to be in Dubai, had established Glocal University using illicit funds. The university’s foundation was allegedly laid with Rs 500 crore earned through rampant illegal sand mining operations managed by the Mohd Iqbal Group. These operations included several mining firms involved in extensive illegal activities in Saharanpur and surrounding areas.
The FIR names multiple individuals, including Mehmood Ali, Mohd Inam (son of late Abdul Wahid), Dilshad, Naseem Ahmad, Vikas Agarwal, Mohd Wajid, Narendra Kumar, his sons Puneet Jain, Amit Jain, and Mukesh Jain, along with some government officials from Saharanpur and other unidentified persons.
ED officials revealed that despite reporting minimal earnings on their Income Tax Returns (ITRs), high-value transactions involving crores of rupees occurred between these mining firms and other companies within the Mohd Iqbal Group. These transactions, lacking any legitimate business purpose, were funnelled into the Abdul Waheed Educational and Charitable Trust through multiple sham entities and bogus transactions, presented as unsecured loans and donations.
All trustees of the Abdul Waheed Educational and Charitable Trust, including Haji Mohammad Iqbal and his family members, were involved in managing these illicit funds. The misappropriated money was subsequently used to purchase land in Saharanpur and construct buildings for Glocal University.
The attached property includes 121 acres of land and university buildings valued at Rs 4,439 crore. Haji Mohammad Iqbal is absconding, believed to be residing in Dubai, while his four sons and brother are currently imprisoned on various charges.
The ED’s action states the serious implications of illegal mining and money laundering in the region. As the investigation progresses, further revelations and additional arrests are anticipated. The authorities are committed to tracing and seizing all assets acquired illegally, ensuring stringent action against those involved.
An ED official shared a press note detailing the property attachment and the ongoing investigation. “The funds from illegal mining were funneled into the Abdul Waheed Educational and Charitable Trust through multiple sham entities. These funds were then used for purchasing land and constructing buildings for Glocal University,” the official stated.
City officials and the community await further developments as the ED continues its investigation into this high-profile case, reflecting a broader effort to curb corruption and illegal activities in the region.
