New Legal Challenges for Azam Khan in Jawahar University Case
Azam Khan faces new legal troubles as FIR registered over alleged misuse of government funds in Jawahar University construction.
Rampur, October 14 (Daily Kiran) : Azam Khan, the national general secretary of the Samajwadi Party, is facing escalating legal challenges. An FIR has been filed against him, the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, and others at the Ajeet Nagar police station in Rampur. This case pertains to the alleged misuse of government funds and construction materials in the development of Jawahar University.
The FIR, registered on October 13, is based on information provided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). It includes charges of fraud, criminal conspiracy, and corruption. Specific sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 61, 316(5), and 318(4), along with provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, are cited in the complaint.
The ED has shared information related to the investigation under Section 66(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) with the Uttar Pradesh police. The police will now conduct an inquiry into the allegations made by the ED.
According to the ED, the estimated cost for constructing buildings on the Jawahar University campus is approximately ₹494.46 crore. Meanwhile, the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust has reported a total capital expenditure of ₹78.32 crore in its income tax returns for the fiscal years 2013-14 to 2024-25. The ED claims there is a discrepancy of about ₹416.14 crore between these two figures, alleging that government funds were misappropriated for university-related construction.
The agency’s complaint highlights about ₹55.8 crore related to contractor works, ₹23.41 crore tied to government projects, and ₹6.60 crore associated with legislative area development funds. The total amount involved in these matters is reported to be around ₹85.81 crore. The ED has also raised questions about the legitimacy of certain donations received by the trust.
There are concerns that some funds may have been funneled to the trust through contractors and misrepresented as donations. The investigation will look into the roles of Azam Khan, the trust, relevant contractors, and others involved. The allegations in the FIR are currently under investigation.
