India
Azam Khan Detained by ED Minutes After Bail Release from Rampur Jail
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) detained Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan minutes after he was released on bail from Rampur jail. The ED apprehended him outside the jail premises in an alleged money‑laundering case. A Lucknow zonal official confirmed to HT that "We have apprehended Azam Khan. After following arrest procedures, we will arrest him and produce before Ghaziabad, PMLA court." The ED is probing a money‑laundering case involving the former Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister, the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and others. On Wednesday, the probe agency attached land and buildings of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, estimating their current market value at approximately ₹1,170 crore. The university, located in Jauhar Nagar village, is owned by the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, founded and controlled by Azam Khan, who is also its honorary chancellor. In a statement, the ED’s Lucknow zonal office said its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) had identified assets worth ₹426.46 crore as alleged proceeds of crime. The agency claimed that government funds, construction materials and donations from contractors executing public works had been diverted to build the university campus. The ED arrived at the attachment value after comparing the assessed cost of the campus with expenditure it considered supported by legitimate sources.
Frequently asked questions
Why was Azam Khan detained by the ED?
He was released on bail from Rampur jail and the ED apprehended him minutes later in a money‑laundering case.
What assets has the ED attached in the investigation?
The ED attached land and buildings of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, valued at approximately ₹1,170 crore, and identified assets worth ₹426.46 crore as alleged proceeds of crime.