The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, chairman of the Al Falah Group, in connection with an alleged ₹45 crore land fraud case in Delhi. Authorities say the case involves the acquisition of property using forged documents.

Siddiqui, who also serves as director and majority shareholder of the Tarbia Education Foundation, was taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. ED investigations revealed that falsified documents were used to fraudulently acquire land in Village Madanpur Khadar, New Delhi (Khasra No. 792), covering 1.146 acres. While the documents cited a consideration amount of ₹75 lakh, the actual market value of the property is estimated at ₹45 crore.

Siddiqui was presented before a Delhi court, which remanded him to ED custody until April 4 for further questioning. Investigators are actively tracing the money trail and identifying other potential beneficiaries or properties acquired through the alleged scheme.

This arrest follows Siddiqui’s earlier detention on November 19, 2025, in a separate money laundering case linked to alleged fraudulent accreditation claims and financial irregularities at Al Falah University. Previous complaints filed by the Delhi Police Crime Branch included charges of cheating and forgery of accreditation documents.

Interim investigations have also scrutinized the university’s Dhouj campus in Faridabad, following the November 10 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, which claimed 15 lives. One doctor associated with the university-hospital, Dr. Umar-un-Nabi, was allegedly involved in the blast as a suicide bomber, prompting the ED to examine the university’s broader connections.

Experts say cases like this highlight growing trends of money laundering, forged documents, and fraudulent land acquisitions, particularly involving senior officials in higher education. Investigators emphasize that Siddiqui’s arrest is part of a broader probe to ensure all involved parties are identified and held accountable.

The ED continues to interrogate individuals in custody to trace funds, related assets, and other potential accomplices. Authorities have stressed that strict legal action will be taken if further irregularities are discovered. The case raises pressing questions about financial transparency, governance, and regulatory oversight in educational institutions.

Prayagraj police have launched an investigation into Togo Retail Marketing Limited following allegations that the company defrauded investors of crores of rupees by promising unusually high returns and later disappearing after shutting down its office. The company’s director, Dr. Prithvi Pal Singh Shetty, along with several associates, has been named in the case as authorities seek to trace the funds and hold the responsible parties accountable.

Promises of High Returns Lure Investors

According to the complaint, Togo Retail offered an investment scheme claiming that a deposit of ₹10,000 would quadruple to ₹40,000 over ten years. To build credibility, the company issued official-looking investment certificates and operated through a network of agents who encouraged residents to invest their savings. Many investors reportedly trusted these assurances and transferred significant amounts of money to the company.

Sudden Closure Sparks Investor Backlash

As the maturity period for the investments approached, investors visiting Togo Retail’s office on Leader Road were met with vague responses and repeated delays. Soon after, the company shut down its office, and its director and officials reportedly disappeared. The sudden closure prompted investor outrage, leading to confrontations with agents who had facilitated the investments. Several agents claimed they too had been misled and acted in good faith.

Multi-State Operations and Investigation

Preliminary inquiries suggest the company operated under multiple names and maintained offices in other cities, including Bareilly, Sultanpur, and Lucknow. Similar complaints have also emerged from Uttarakhand and Maharashtra, indicating a possible multi-state fraud operation targeting thousands of investors. Nearly two dozen intermediaries reportedly promoted the schemes across various regions, collecting money from local residents.

Financial crime experts note that such schemes have become increasingly sophisticated, often using temporary offices and formal-looking certificates to gain investor trust before disappearing with collected funds. Authorities are currently examining financial transactions to trace the flow of money and identify assets linked to the accused.

Next Steps

Investigators are working to locate the company’s director and associates, recover investor funds, and assess the full extent of the fraud. Legal action will continue based on findings from the ongoing investigation, as affected investors hope for restitution.

New Delhi – The Income Tax Department has launched a major investigation into a suspected multi-crore network funneling illegal earnings from sand mining in Bundelkhand into real estate and other businesses in Noida and Greater Noida. Early findings indicate that funds generated from morang sand extraction in Banda and Mahoba districts may have been laundered through property investments and aviation companies, with possible links to benami holdings and international hawala channels.

Mining Operations as the Source of Illegal Funds

The probe began with a review of financial records connected to mining operators in the Bundelkhand region. Officials traced large cash flows to real estate ventures and identified suspicious financial patterns in multiple companies with limited legitimate business activity. Investigators have focused on Banda-based mining businessman Dilip Singh and real estate entrepreneur Anand Shukla, whose ventures reportedly include projects in Greater Noida West.

Sudden Spike in Company Incomes Raises Red Flags

Investigators noted unusual surges in reported incomes among businesses linked to the network. Certain companies, despite minimal operational activity, recorded crores in transactions. Several shell companies appeared to use nominal directors, including low-level employees and domestic staff, to channel illicit earnings and present them as legitimate revenue.

Significant Recoveries During Searches

Searches conducted across multiple locations in Noida and Greater Noida reportedly yielded approximately ₹20 crore in cash and jewellery. Officials are analyzing seized documents, financial records, and valuables to map the full scope of undisclosed investments and potential tax evasion, which preliminary estimates suggest could total hundreds of crores.

Properties Allegedly Used to Influence Officials

The investigation has also uncovered instances where flats, shops, and commercial showrooms were allegedly transferred as bribes to influence regulatory oversight of mining operations. Many of these properties were registered under the names of relatives, associates, or proxy owners, including domestic staff, to obscure the actual beneficiaries.

Cash-Heavy Mining Trade Facilitates Money Laundering

Experts note that the mining sector in Bundelkhand generates significant cash transactions, which are often difficult to process through formal banking channels. Real estate and construction projects are reportedly used as convenient avenues to convert unaccounted cash into legitimate-looking income. Investigators are also exploring possible links to international hawala operators and aviation investments.

The Income Tax Department continues to scrutinize financial transactions, property ownership records, and business links. Authorities expect further revelations as the probe advances, potentially exposing a complex network of illegal earnings and tax evasion spanning multiple sectors and states.