ED raids 10 locations in UP, Delhi linked to jailed SP leader Azam Khan
Synopsis
The ED has raided ten locations tied to jailed SP leader Azam Khan — including Jauhar University — under PMLA, hunting for proceeds of crime and financial records. This escalation arrives as the university simultaneously faces a demolition order over 38 unauthorised buildings, putting one of UP's most politically charged institutions under pressure from two directions at once.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate searched ten locations in Rampur , Saharanpur , and Delhi on 19 August under the PMLA .
Searches covered Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and its trust, among other sites linked to Azam Khan .
The ED is probing alleged diversion and utilisation of government funds, seeking digital evidence and financial records.
Azam Khan and his son Abdullah Azam are currently lodged in Rampur Jail .
The Rampur Development Authority had flagged 38 out of 40 campus buildings as unauthorised; a demolition order was subsequently stayed by the UP Divisional Commissioner in late July .
Tazeen Fatma , Azam Khan's wife, has publicly urged the UP government to reconsider the demolition decision.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday, 19 August conducted searches across ten locations in Rampur, Saharanpur, and Delhi in connection with jailed Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan, according to officials. The searches, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targeted sites linked to Khan and his associates, including the Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and its trust.
What the ED Is Looking For
Officials stated that the raids are aimed at tracing proceeds of crime, along with digital evidence, documents, and financial records connected to the alleged diversion and utilisation of government funds. The agency is investigating the financial trail linked to Azam Khan's activities and institutions associated with him.
Azam Khan is currently serving a prison sentence at Rampur Jail, alongside his son Abdullah Azam.
The Jauhar University Controversy
The ED action comes amid a parallel dispute over Mohammad Ali Jauhar University itself. The Rampur Development Authority (RDA) flagged multiple construction violations on the campus, alleging that 38 out of 40 buildings were erected without the required approvals. The RDA had issued a notice asking the university to self-demolish the structures within a set timeframe, warning that the district administration would intervene if it failed to comply.
The demolition order triggered significant political fallout. In late July, the Uttar Pradesh government's Divisional Commissioner issued a temporary stay on the District Magistrate of Rampur's demolition directive, halting action for the time being. The Samajwadi Party openly contested the order, framing it as politically motivated, while the university's future remained uncertain.
Azam Khan's Wife Appeals for Reconsideration
On Tuesday, Tazeen Fatma, Azam Khan's wife, appealed to the Uttar Pradesh government to reverse course on the demolition order. 'We urge the government to reconsider. In the interest of the nation and the public, they should rethink this decision, the decision to demolish,' she said.
Fatma argued that the university was built to serve the public and that the interests of students must be kept in mind. 'Is this how politics will continue in the state? The government must decide for itself,' she said. She also questioned whether any university had been demolished in India before, calling the move 'an injustice.' She added that she continued to have faith in justice and appealed to citizens to come forward to protect the institution.
What Happens Next
The temporary stay on the demolition order has offered limited relief, but the underlying dispute over alleged construction violations remains unresolved. With the ED now deepening its financial investigation and the demolition question still legally live, the pressure on institutions linked to Azam Khan is set to intensify in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Or whether it stalls as a prolonged pressure tactic. The temporary stay on demolition has bought time, but it has not resolved the core question of accountability for how Jauhar University was built and funded.
NationPress
19 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the ED raid locations linked to Azam Khan?
The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to trace alleged proceeds of crime and recover financial records connected to the suspected diversion and utilisation of government funds linked to jailed SP leader Azam Khan.
Which locations were searched in the ED raids?
Ten locations were searched, including Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and its trust in Rampur, as well as sites in Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh) and Delhi.
What is the controversy around Jauhar University?
The Rampur Development Authority alleged that 38 out of 40 buildings on the Jauhar University campus were constructed without required approvals. A demolition order was issued by the District Magistrate of Rampur but was subsequently stayed by the UP Divisional Commissioner in late July.
Where is Azam Khan currently?
Azam Khan is serving a prison sentence at Rampur Jail in Uttar Pradesh, along with his son Abdullah Azam.
What has Azam Khan's family said about the Jauhar University situation?
His wife, Tazeen Fatma, appealed to the Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday to reconsider the demolition decision, arguing the university was built in the public interest and that students' futures must be protected. She also expressed continued faith in justice.
