New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday dismissed Al Falah chairman Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui’s plea seeking the list of unrelied documents from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), holding that “such disclosure cannot be allowed at the pre-cognisance stage while the investigation is still pending”.The defence argued that Siddiqui had been supplied the prosecution complaint and relied-upon documents (RUDs), but not the list of unrelied documents. Counsel contended that complete disclosure was necessary to ensure a fair trial under Article 21 of the Constitution and to enable the accused to exercise his rights under Section 91 of the CrPC, especially with bail pleas pending.
Relying on Sarla Gupta vs Directorate of Enforcement, 2025, the defence contended that “the list of unrelied documents is required to be provided even at the stage of pre cognisance.”Opposing the plea, special public prosecutor Simon Benjamin argued that Siddiqui had been summoned under Section 223 of the BNSS and that, at this stage, only documents relied upon by the prosecution were required to be furnished. Supplying unrelied documents now, he said, would prejudice the ongoing investigation.After hearing both sides, the court observed that the accused had already been provided the prosecution complaint along with all relied-upon documents. It held that at the pre-cognisance stage, the list of unrelied documents is not required to be disclosed, noting that such disclosure could adversely affect the probe. Finding no merit in the plea, judge Chaudhary dismissed the application.Siddiqui was arrested by the ED in Nov 2025 in a money laundering case linked to alleged cheating of students enrolled in institutions run by the Al Falah Charitable Trust. The probe, based on two Delhi Police FIRs, alleges false NAAC/UGC claims and diversion of Rs 415.1 crore (2018–2025) for personal use.
