LUCKNOW: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday questioned senior Samajwadi Party leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan at Rampur jail in connection with its money-laundering investigation into the Jauhar Trust and Mohammad Ali Jauhar University.A three-member ED team visited the prison to question Azam Khan for eight hours as part of an investigation into alleged illegal land acquisition, suspected financial irregularities and the utilisation of funds for the development of the university.The probe, being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, stems from 27 FIRs registered by Uttar Pradesh Police in Rampur. Of these, 26 were registered at Azeem Nagar police station and one at Kotwali police station.The cases include allegations of cheating, extortion, forgery and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code. These offences form the basis of the ED’s money-laundering investigation. The ED registered a case against the Jauhar Trust in 2019.According to the agency’s investigation, Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, through its chancellor Azam Khan and others, allegedly acquired land belonging to farmers as well as enemy property belonging to the Government of India illegally.The ED is examining the alleged proceeds of crime, including how the money or assets were generated, concealed, possessed, acquired and subsequently utilised.The allegations are part of an ongoing investigation and have not, by themselves, established criminal liability.The ED is investigating the financial trail linked to the Jauhar Trust and the university to establish whether assets were created using proceeds derived from the alleged offences. Investigators are examining the acquisition of land, the funding arrangements for the institution and the use of donations received by the trust.During earlier search operations, the agency seized documents, records relating to allegedly fictitious donations received by the trust, and digital records considered relevant to the investigation. These materials are being examined to establish the source of funds, the identities of donors and how the money was used.The agency is also seeking to determine whether the alleged irregularities in land acquisition and financial transactions were connected and whether any assets were created or retained using proceeds of crime.Further investigation is underway.The ED had last week questioned Samajwadi Party MLA Naseer Ahmad Khan for nearly seven hours in connection with the same probe. Khan represents the Chamraua Assembly constituency in Rampur and had served as joint secretary of the Jauhar Trust.According to sources, investigators questioned him about his role in the trust’s affairs, decisions taken by its office-bearers, donation arrangements and matters relating to the construction and development of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University.UP minister says ED probe is part of investigative processReacting to the questioning of Azam Khan, Uttar Pradesh minister Jaiveer Singh said the investigation into Mohammad Ali Jauhar University had been underway for a considerable period and that the agency had also examined people who had contributed donations to the institution.He said financial irregularities or discrepancies had emerged during the investigation and that several people had been questioned in connection with them. The minister described the ED’s action as part of the investigative process and said the agency was carrying out its work.Singh also rejected the suggestion that the ED’s investigation should be viewed through a political lens, maintaining that the agency was performing its assigned role.
