The Delhi High Court on 15 July 2025 refused to grant interim bail to Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, an accused in the Al-Falah Trust money laundering case, who had sought temporary release to care for his wife undergoing treatment for Stage-IV ovarian cancer. While declining the six-week relief, the court permitted him three days of custody parole to visit her at their residence.

What the Court Decided

A single-judge bench of Justice Saurabh Banerjee rejected Siddiqui's plea for six weeks' interim bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), holding that no emergent or exceptional circumstance had been established to justify temporary release. The court stated: 'Though this court is sympathetic towards the medical condition of the applicant's wife, however, considering the gravity and nature of the allegations levelled against the applicant... the statutory rigours governing grant of bail cannot be diluted merely on humanitarian considerations, more so, in the absence of any emergent and/or exceptional circumstance warranting the applicant's immediate release.'

The bench also noted that Siddiqui 'may be a flight risk and may be in a position to influence the witnesses and/or try to tamper with evidence.'

Custody Parole Granted on Humanitarian Grounds

Taking a measured humanitarian view, the court allowed Siddiqui custody parole on three specific dates — 21, 23, and 25 July — to meet his wife, Usma Akhtar, at their Jamia Nagar residence between 10 am and 4 pm. The Jail Superintendent was directed to make adequate security arrangements, given that Siddiqui is classified as a 'high-risk undertrial.' The court further clarified that during parole, he would only be permitted to meet his wife and 'be not allowed to meet and/or interact with any other person.'

Why the Court Rejected the Humanitarian Plea

Siddiqui had argued he was his wife's sole caregiver, but the court found the medical record did not establish that his presence was medically indispensable. Referring to the latest reports, the bench recorded that Usma Akhtar was suffering from 'Stage-IV Metastatic Ovarian Carcinoma-HRD Positive, MSI Stable,' but observed her condition appeared stable and responding to treatment.

'It appears to be a case wherein the condition of the wife is not deteriorating and is rather improving,' the court said, citing a PET-CT report that recorded a mild reduction in lesion size and described the disease as stable. It also noted she was on maintenance chemotherapy once every fortnight on a day-care basis — a schedule that did not constitute a medical emergency requiring his continuous presence. The court additionally observed that Siddiqui had not demonstrated the absence of alternative support from relatives residing nearby.

The Enforcement Directorate's Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed the bail plea, contending that Usma Akhtar's medical condition was stable, no emergency existed, and that Siddiqui posed a flight risk. The money laundering probe stems from multiple Delhi Police FIRs alleging cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy linked to the operations of Al-Falah University and its associated entities.

According to the ED, proceeds of crime worth ₹493.24 crore were generated between 2016-17 and 2024-25 and allegedly diverted through entities linked to Siddiqui and his family. Earlier this year, the agency attached assets worth ₹39.45 crore belonging to Al-Falah Charitable Trust and Siddiqui, in addition to university land and buildings valued at more than ₹144 crore.

What Comes Next

Siddiqui's regular bail applications are listed before the Delhi High Court on 29 and 30 July. The outcome of those hearings will be closely watched, as they will test whether the court's assessment of flight risk and evidence-tampering concerns holds when the full bail merits are argued. The interim bail applications arise from two separate money laundering cases under ED investigation.