ED Raids SP Leader Azam Khan-Linked Trust and Jauhar University in Money Laundering Probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches at multiple premises linked to Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, including the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, as part of a money laundering investigation.

Officials said searches were carried out at around 10 locations across Rampur, Saharanpur and Delhi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The Lucknow-headquartered trust has Khan, a former Uttar Pradesh Cabinet minister, as its main trustee, along with family members and other associates. It runs the university in Rampur and a public school.

The ED probe is understood to centre on allegations that funds linked to government contracts were routed through private contractors and subsequently used for assets associated with the trust and university. Investigators are examining financial transactions, including alleged donations and construction-related payments, to trace the suspected money trail.

The allegations remain under investigation and have not been established in court. The ED had also not publicly disclosed any specific seizure or recovery from the searches at the time of publication.

The action comes as Jauhar University is already facing separate regulatory challenges. It has been embroiled in a dispute over 38 of its 40 buildings, with authorities alleging that the structures lacked required approvals. The university challenged the action and secured interim relief, while the matter remains pending.

The institution has also faced scrutiny from multiple government agencies in recent months. These proceedings are separate from the ED's money laundering investigation unless a direct connection is established.

The searches triggered a sharp political response from Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who accused the BJP of selectively targeting institutions associated with Khan while ignoring alleged wrongdoing elsewhere. He also portrayed the action as politically motivated.

SP spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan described the searches as “vindictive politics”, accusing the BJP of using investigative agencies to target political opponents.

No verified direct response from Azam Khan had emerged at the time of publication. The key question now is whether the ED can establish a direct money trail linking alleged proceeds of crime to the trust or university. Details of any documents or evidence recovered during the searches are awaited.