Azam Khan sent to 4-day ED custody in ₹426 crore Jauhar University money laundering case
Synopsis
Samajwadi Party heavyweight Azam Khan has been sent to four days of ED custody by a Ghaziabad Special Court in the ₹426 crore Jauhar University money laundering case — days after the Supreme Court refused him immediate relief and redirected his plea to the Allahabad High Court, where it comes up on 16 November.
Key Takeaways
A Ghaziabad Special Court on 12 November 2026 remanded SP leader Mohammad Azam Khan to ED custody for four days .
Khan is linked to a ₹426.46 crore money laundering case involving Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, UP .
The ED arrested Khan on 31 October , reportedly within 40 minutes of his release on bail in a dual PAN card case.
The Supreme Court on 5 November declined immediate relief and directed all records to the Allahabad High Court for listing on 16 November .
The ED has provisionally attached university land and buildings worth ₹426.46 crore , alleging they represent proceeds of crime.
Khan founded the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and serves as the university's honorary Chancellor.
A Special Court in Ghaziabad on 12 November 2026 remanded Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mohammad Azam Khan to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody for four days in connection with the ₹426 crore money laundering case linked to Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. Khan is expected to be transferred from Dasna jail to Lucknow on Friday for questioning by the central agency, according to officials.
Background: Arrest and Supreme Court Setback
The ED had arrested Khan immediately after he walked out of jail on 31 October, reportedly about 40 minutes after securing bail in a dual PAN card case. He was subsequently remanded to judicial custody until 13 November by the Ghaziabad MP-MLA Court and lodged in Dasna jail.
On 5 November, the Supreme Court declined to grant Khan immediate relief in his plea challenging the ED arrest. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed the apex court registry to transfer all case records to the Allahabad High Court, with the matter to be listed before an appropriate Division Bench on 16 November.
What Khan's Plea Sought
Khan had approached the Supreme Court seeking the quashing of the ED's arrest order as well as the 1 November remand order passed by the Special Court in Ghaziabad. The plea also sought his release as an interim measure, which the Supreme Court declined to grant at that stage.
The Jauhar University Investigation
The money laundering investigation stems from First Information Reports (FIRs) alleging the forcible acquisition of agricultural land belonging to farmers for the university. The ED has further claimed that government funds and public resources were diverted towards the development of the institution.
The agency has provisionally attached land and buildings of the university valued at ₹426.46 crore, asserting that these constitute alleged proceeds of crime. The university is owned by the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, founded and controlled by Khan, who also serves as its honorary Chancellor.
What Happens Next
With the matter now heading to the Allahabad High Court for listing on 16 November, Khan's legal team is expected to press its challenge to the ED arrest before a Division Bench. The four-day ED custody order means Khan will face sustained questioning in Lucknow before the High Court hearing, shaping the legal and political stakes of one of Uttar Pradesh's most closely watched cases.
Point of View
Yet the underlying allegations of land grab and fund diversion remain untested in trial. The Supreme Court's refusal to intervene at this stage signals judicial deference to the investigation process, but the High Court hearing on 16 November will be a crucial indicator of whether the courts see any merit in the arrest challenge.
NationPress
12 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Azam Khan been sent to ED custody?
A Ghaziabad Special Court sent SP leader Azam Khan to four days of ED custody on 12 November 2026 in connection with a ₹426 crore money laundering case tied to Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, UP. The ED alleges forcible land acquisition and diversion of government funds for the university's development.
When and how was Azam Khan arrested by the ED?
The ED arrested Khan on 31 October 2026, reportedly about 40 minutes after he walked out of Dasna jail on bail in a separate dual PAN card case. He was subsequently remanded to judicial custody by the Ghaziabad MP-MLA Court.
What did the Supreme Court say about Azam Khan's plea?
On 5 November 2026, the Supreme Court declined to grant Khan immediate relief in his challenge to the ED arrest. A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed all case records to be transferred to the Allahabad High Court, where the matter is listed for 16 November.
What is the Jauhar University money laundering case about?
The case stems from FIRs alleging that agricultural land belonging to farmers was forcibly acquired for Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, and that government funds were diverted for the institution's development. The ED has provisionally attached land and buildings of the university worth ₹426.46 crore as alleged proceeds of crime.
What happens next in the Azam Khan case?
Khan will face questioning in Lucknow during the four-day ED custody period. His legal challenge to the arrest is scheduled to be heard by an appropriate Division Bench of the Allahabad High Court on 16 November 2026.
