ED attaches Jauhar University assets worth ₹426.46 crore in Azam Khan PMLA case
Synopsis
The ED has provisionally attached ₹426.46 crore worth of land and buildings at Azam Khan's Jauhar University in Rampur — alleging the campus was built with diverted public funds, forcibly acquired farmland, and laundered contractor money. With a market value of ₹1,170 crore and 54 FIRs in play, this is one of the most sweeping PMLA attachments targeting a sitting legislator's institution in UP.
Key Takeaways
The ED provisionally attached Mohammad Ali Jauhar University assets worth ₹426.46 crore on 28 October 2026 under PMLA.
The campus in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh has an estimated market value of ₹1,170 crore and includes 59 buildings acquired through 114 sale deeds .
The ED alleges only ₹72.63 crore of the campus cost has legitimate sources; the remaining ₹426.46 crore is claimed as proceeds of crime.
The probe draws from 26 FIRs alleging forced land acquisition, with 28 additional FIRs also under investigation.
The agency alleged ₹23.41 crore in government sanctions and ₹6.60 crore in MLA/MLC funds were used on the private campus.
Searches at the university on 19 August 2026 seized electronic devices and documents; further investigation is ongoing.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached land and buildings belonging to Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, valued at ₹426.46 crore, in connection with a money laundering investigation targeting the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former minister Mohammad Azam Khan, and others, the agency said on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. The attachment is among the largest in a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case linked to an educational institution in Uttar Pradesh.
What Has Been Attached
The attached assets — comprising the university campus at Jauhar Nagar in Singhankhera village, Rampur — carry a current estimated market value of approximately ₹1,170 crore, according to the ED. The campus encompasses 59 buildings and land acquired through 114 sale deeds, and is owned by the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which was founded by and remains under the control of Azam Khan, who also serves as the institution's honorary Chancellor.
A valuation by the District Valuation Officer placed the total cost of the campus at ₹499.09 crore. However, the trust reportedly declared only ₹78.32 crore as capital expenditure in its income tax filings. After scrutinising available records, the ED concluded that just ₹72.63 crore of the campus cost could be traced to legitimate sources — leaving ₹426.46 crore as alleged proceeds of crime, the agency stated.
The Allegations: Land Grab, Diverted Funds and Government Projects
The ED's investigation draws from 26 FIRs registered at Azeem Nagar police station in Rampur, which allege that agricultural land belonging to farmers was forcibly acquired for the university. Additionally, the agency said district administration enquiries found that nearly 34 acres of enemy property at Singhankhera village had allegedly been occupied for the university despite cancellation of the land lease; the land has since been recovered by the Custodian of Enemy Property through the district administration.
The ED further alleged that funds earmarked for public works were diverted to the university, government-funded construction projects were executed on the private campus, and money from contractors awarded government contracts was routed back to the trust as donations. Contractors involved in government projects reportedly admitted to supplying construction material and funds for the university, according to the agency.
Separately, the ED has taken up investigation of 28 additional FIRs against Azam Khan and others in Rampur. These cases include allegations that several houses were demolished in 2016 and that material and equipment tied to public projects were diverted to the campus — allegations already part of police charge sheets.
Public Money Allegedly Used on Private Campus
According to the ED, works worth ₹6.60 crore were executed on the university campus using MLA and MLC local area development funds, while government sanctions totalling ₹23.41 crore were granted for infrastructure on the private premises. The agency alleged that subsequent modifications to government orders resulted in public assets being effectively transferred to the university.
Searches conducted at the university and related premises on 19 August 2026 yielded electronic devices and documents, the ED said. The agency stated that proceeds generated through illegal activities were utilised for the acquisition, construction, and development of the university and its associated assets.
Background and What Comes Next
Azam Khan, a veteran SP leader and several-term member of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, has faced a string of criminal and civil cases in recent years. This provisional attachment under PMLA is the latest in a series of enforcement actions that have drawn sustained political attention. The SP has previously characterised such proceedings as politically motivated, though those claims are disputed by investigators.
The provisional attachment will be examined by the Adjudicating Authority under PMLA, which will decide whether to confirm or revoke it. The ED has indicated that further investigation is ongoing.
Point of View
Backed by 54 FIRs and a District Valuation Officer's report — sets it apart from routine enforcement actions against political figures. The ED's core contention, that public works money was laundered through contractor donations back to a private trust, raises a structural question about oversight of MLA-LAD and government infrastructure funds in UP. Azam Khan's cases have dragged through courts for years with limited resolution, and the SP's standing 'political vendetta' defence, while politically potent, has not thus far produced acquittals. What mainstream coverage often misses is the ₹1,170 crore market-value gap versus the ₹426.46 crore attachment figure — a signal that the ED may expand the attachment in subsequent rounds if the adjudicating authority upholds this one.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the ED attached in the Jauhar University PMLA case?
The ED has provisionally attached land and buildings of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, worth ₹426.46 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The campus, which includes 59 buildings acquired through 114 sale deeds, has an estimated current market value of around ₹1,170 crore.
What are the main allegations against Azam Khan in this case?
The ED alleges that agricultural land was forcibly acquired from farmers for the university, public funds were diverted to the private campus, government-sanctioned infrastructure projects were executed on private premises, and contractor money from government projects was routed back to the trust as donations. These allegations stem from 26 FIRs at Azeem Nagar police station in Rampur, with 28 additional FIRs also under investigation.
How did the ED arrive at the ₹426.46 crore proceeds of crime figure?
A District Valuation Officer estimated the total campus cost at ₹499.09 crore, but the trust declared only ₹78.32 crore as capital expenditure in its tax filings. After reviewing records, the ED found that just ₹72.63 crore could be explained through legitimate sources, leaving ₹426.46 crore as alleged proceeds of crime.
What happens next after the provisional attachment?
The provisional attachment will be placed before the Adjudicating Authority under PMLA, which will decide whether to confirm or revoke it. The ED has also indicated that further investigation is ongoing, and searches conducted on 19 August 2026 at the university yielded additional electronic evidence.
What is Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and its connection to Azam Khan?
Mohammad Ali Jauhar University is a private institution located at Jauhar Nagar in Singhankhera village, Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. It is owned by the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which was founded by and remains controlled by SP leader and former minister Mohammad Azam Khan, who also serves as its honorary Chancellor.
