Azam Khan’s Johar University Under ED Lens Again, Money Trail Probed
Rampur: The Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, considered the dream project of senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, once again came under the scanner of investigating agencies on Wednesday morning. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched simultaneous searches at the Johar University and premises linked to the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust in Rampur, as well as around 10 locations in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. The focus of the action is reportedly to trace the entire financial chain of funds allegedly originating from government contracts and suspected by the investigating agency to have eventually reached the university and the trust.
An ED team reached Johar University in Rampur at around 7 am on Wednesday. Police personnel remained deployed outside for security, while classes continued inside the university. According to officials, the searches are being conducted under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The most important question in the case concerns the alleged use of funds linked to government contracts.
The investigating agency is trying to determine what kind of financial transactions took place between certain private contractors who secured government contracts and the Jauhar Trust. As part of the investigation into the allegations, the agency is also examining whether money obtained through government contracts was transferred, directly or indirectly, to the trust or the university.
Another important aspect of the investigation is to establish the actual source of funds if any contractor donated money to the trust or invested funds in construction work or other facilities at the university, and whether any commercial or financial benefit was attached to such transactions. The ED is attempting to connect the links concerning the source, movement and eventual use of these funds.
The ED’s action is reportedly aimed at collecting financial records, bank transactions, construction-related documents, trust records and other digital evidence. The investigating agency wants to establish where the funds used for various properties and construction activities of the university and the trust originated and what process was followed for their payment.
It is noteworthy that the ED’s latest action against Johar University comes at a time when the university is already involved in legal proceedings concerning building construction and administrative disputes. In July, the Rampur district administration ordered the demolition of 38 out of the university’s 40 buildings. The administration alleged that these buildings had been constructed without obtaining the necessary approval of the building plans. However, the Moradabad Divisional Commissioner’s court later stayed the order. Judicial proceedings in the matter are continuing.
Investigative agency action against premises linked to Azam Khan and Johar University is not new. In July 2019, the ED conducted searches at premises connected with the university and seized documents. Subsequently, in September 2023, the Income Tax Department and the ED conducted operations for several days at premises linked to Azam Khan and at the university. At that time too, documents relating to financial transactions and alleged irregularities were examined.
The latest action in 2026 now appears to be taking the investigation into a new phase, with Saharanpur and Delhi being brought within its scope along with Rampur.
For now, the presence of security forces outside Johar University and the document-based investigation taking place inside have once again become a major development in Rampur’s political and administrative circles. Despite Azam Khan being in jail, Johar University, one of his most ambitious projects, continues to remain at the centre of investigations and legal disputes. Wednesday’s action has now focused attention on what new evidence the ED may find regarding the alleged source of the funds and the route through which they are suspected to have reached the university.
