New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday launched searches against the Al Falah University of Faridabad and its promoters and linked persons as part of its investigation related to the Red Fort area terrorist blast case, sources said.
Teams of the federal probe agency have been searching multiple locations in the Delhi-NCR since early morning, sources said.
It is understood that the ED is taking action under the anti-money laundering law following cognisance of the first information reports filed by the NIA and the Delhi Police in the case. The agency is investigating finances and purported terror financing links in the matter.
Sources said the searches began around 5 am, and the trustees of the University are also being raided.
Till now, the NIA has arrested two persons, allegedly close aides of “suicide bomber” Dr Umar Nabi.
The Al Falah varsity is located in the Dhouj area of Faridabad district in Haryana near Delhi, and it is a medical college-cum-hospital.
Several suspects linked to the November 10 car blast near the Red Fort in Delhi are believed to have had associations with the University, prompting investigators to examine institutional records, financial transactions and administrative approvals.
Some doctors have also been arrested from the University in connection with the November 10 high-intensity blast near the Red Fort in Delhi, which claimed 13 lives and injured several others.
Notably, the Delhi blast prime accused, Dr Umar Un Nabi, was a student of Al Falah University.
On November 13, a show-cause notice was issued to the University, which has emerged as the epicentre of the terror module. The University is neither accredited nor has applied for accreditation.
The website of the University was also taken down.
Investigators are expected to focus on funds routed through the institution and any suspicious monetary exchanges involving individuals already under investigation in the case, it was known.
Other central and state agencies were also learnt to be coordinating with the ED to examine whether the University’s accounts or associated entities were used to channel money for the planning or execution of the attack.
The University recently issued a statement condemning the Delhi blast, and said it is a responsible institution and stands in solidarity with the nation.
Later, the Delhi Police issued two summons to the Al-Falah University chancellor in connection with the ongoing probe into the Faridabad terror module case and the two cases registered against the university for forgery and cheating, an official said earlier in the day.
The summons was sent after investigators found that the university chairman’s statement was crucial for clarifying several inconsistencies linked to the functioning of the university and the activities of individuals associated with the institution.
