The ED raided nearly 10 premises linked to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in connection with a money laundering probe. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday searched 10 premises in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi as part of a money laundering investigation linked to alleged illegal land acquisition and diversion of government funds for the construction of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, founded by jailed Samajwadi Party leader Mohammad Azam Khan. The searches were carried out on August 19 by the ED’s Lucknow wing under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The premises searched were located in Rampur and Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. According to the agency, the investigation was launched on the basis of 26 FIRs registered at Azeem Nagar police station in Rampur and another FIR registered at Kotwali police station. The cases relate to alleged offences including extortion, cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy, which are scheduled offences under the PMLA. The ED said its probe is focused on the alleged acquisition of land belonging to farmers as well as “enemy property” belonging to the Government of India for the university. As per the Enemy Property Act 1968, "enemy property" refers to property that is located in India but legally linked to an enemy national or entity. The agency is also tracing the alleged generation, concealment, possession, acquisition and use of proceeds of crime, including assets created for the university. During Wednesday’s searches, the agency said it seized incriminating documents, records relating to allegedly fictitious donations received by the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and digital evidence relevant to the investigation. The action comes amid renewed scrutiny of the university and the trust this year. The university, established in 2006, has faced several legal and regulatory disputes over land, construction and alleged use of government resources. The Allahabad High Court has also dealt with cases concerning allegations of land being incorporated into the university campus and questions over the title of certain properties. In one case, the court record referred to allegations that land classified as enemy property had been enclosed within the university premises. Diana George is Associate Editor at Times Now, with over a decade of experience covering national and international news, crime, and local politics. S... View More