ED raids Azam Khan-linked sites in UP; SP calls it vindictive politics
Synopsis
The ED's simultaneous raids on ten Azam Khan-linked sites — including Jauhar University — mark a significant escalation in a case that blends criminal investigation with high-voltage UP politics. With Khan already in jail and his university facing a demolition order, the SP is framing the agency action as a coordinated campaign of political harassment, a charge the BJP has not publicly responded to.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate searched 10 locations linked to Azam Khan in Rampur , Saharanpur , and Delhi on 19 August under the PMLA .
Searches included Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and its trust; investigators sought financial records, digital evidence, and documents related to alleged diversion of government funds.
SP spokesperson Ashutosh Verma called the raids 'vindictive politics' and accused the BJP of targeting leaders from previous governments.
UP Congress President Ajay Rai said the raids were intended to 'target and weaken Azam Khan'.
Azam Khan is currently imprisoned in Rampur Jail along with his son Abdullah Azam .
Jauhar University faces a separate dispute over 38 of 40 buildings built without approvals; a demolition order was stayed by the Divisional Commissioner in late July .
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday, 19 August conducted searches at ten locations linked to jailed Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan across Rampur, Saharanpur, and Delhi, triggering a sharp political backlash from the SP and the Uttar Pradesh Congress. The raids, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), included searches at Mohammad Ali Jauhar University and its associated trust.
What the ED Is Looking For
According to officials, the searches 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 case against Azam Khan has been active for some time, with investigators now widening the scope to include institutional records from Jauhar University.
SP Hits Back: 'Vindictive Politics'
SP spokesperson Ashutosh Verma did not hold back in his criticism of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). 'The Bharatiya Janata Party engages in vindictive politics. It has nothing of its own to offer. Whenever it comes to power, it pursues vindictive politics against previous governments,' he said. Verma further alleged that the state government was replacing plaques on projects initiated during the SP's tenure under Akhilesh Yadav and dismantling welfare schemes introduced during that period. 'Look at Uttar Pradesh; no major work has been done in the last 11 years. They are replacing plaques at Samajwadi Party projects and putting the BJP's name on them, harassing Azam Khan in Rampur, and destroying Akhilesh Yadav's schemes,' he added.
Congress Backs SP's Position
Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai also condemned the raids, stating they were designed to target and weaken the jailed SP leader. 'It is done to target and weaken Azam Khan,' Rai said. The alignment between the SP and Congress on this issue reflects a broader opposition solidarity against what both parties describe as the misuse of central agencies against political adversaries.
The Jauhar University Controversy
Azam Khan is currently serving a sentence in Rampur Jail alongside his son, Abdullah Azam. The Jauhar University at the centre of the raids has been embroiled in a separate legal dispute: the Rampur Development Authority (RDA) flagged that 38 out of 40 buildings on campus were constructed without the necessary approvals and issued a demolition order. In late July, the Uttar Pradesh government's Divisional Commissioner stayed that demolition order, issued by the District Magistrate of Rampur, for the time being. The university's future remains uncertain as legal and administrative proceedings continue.
What Comes Next
With the ED now in possession of financial records and digital evidence from the university and its trust, the investigation is likely to enter a more intensive phase. The political temperature in Uttar Pradesh is expected to remain elevated, particularly in Rampur, where Azam Khan retains a significant support base. The SP has signalled it will continue to contest the raids publicly, framing them as part of a pattern of political targeting ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
Administrative, and investigative actions converging on a single political figure already behind bars. The SP's 'vindictive politics' framing is well-worn opposition language, but it lands in a context where the pattern is hard to dismiss: central agencies have been repeatedly deployed against jailed or weakened opposition figures in UP. What is missing from the public record is any BJP or government response to the specific allegations of political motivation, which leaves the narrative field entirely to the opposition. The real accountability question is whether the PMLA case will produce a chargesheet with verifiable evidence of fund diversion — or whether it remains a prolonged investigative process that keeps pressure on Khan without resolution.
NationPress
19 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the ED raid Azam Khan-linked locations on 19 August?
The ED conducted searches at ten locations linked to jailed SP leader Azam Khan in Rampur, Saharanpur, and Delhi under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Officials said the raids aimed to trace proceeds of crime and gather financial records, digital evidence, and documents related to alleged diversion of government funds.
What is Mohammad Ali Jauhar University's connection to the case?
Jauhar University, founded by Azam Khan, was among the ten sites searched by the ED. The university is also separately embroiled in a dispute with the Rampur Development Authority, which found that 38 of its 40 buildings were constructed without the required approvals and issued a demolition order that was later stayed.
Where is Azam Khan currently and what is he accused of?
Azam Khan is currently serving a sentence in Rampur Jail alongside his son Abdullah Azam. The ED's PMLA case against him relates to the alleged diversion and utilisation of government funds, with investigators now expanding their search to institutional records connected to Jauhar University.
How has the Samajwadi Party responded to the ED raids?
SP spokesperson Ashutosh Verma condemned the raids as 'vindictive politics', accusing the BJP of targeting leaders associated with previous governments instead of delivering on public welfare. The party also alleged that the BJP-led state government has been renaming SP-era projects and dismantling schemes introduced under Akhilesh Yadav.
What is the current status of the Jauhar University demolition order?
The Uttar Pradesh government's Divisional Commissioner stayed the demolition order in late July 2025, temporarily halting the District Magistrate of Rampur's directive to raze 38 of 40 campus buildings built without approvals. The university's future remains uncertain as legal and administrative proceedings continue.
