Enforcement Directorate attaches Jauhar University assets in Uttar Pradesh

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached the land and buildings of Mohammad Ali Jauhar University in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The assets, which include 59 buildings, have a book value of approximately Rs 426.46 crore and an estimated current market value of Rs 1,170 crore.

The investigation targets Samajwadi Party leader and former state cabinet minister Azam Khan and the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which controls the university. The ED alleges that the university was developed using misappropriated government funds, construction materials, and public resources. Specifically, the agency claims that only Rs 72.63 crore of the total construction costs could be accounted for through legitimate sources.

Key allegations include the diversion of funds from Public Works Department contracts, where contractors reportedly routed 30–40% of contract values back to the trust as donations. The agency also cited the illegal occupation of approximately 34 acres of enemy property and the forcible seizure of agricultural land from farmers. Additionally, the ED is investigating the alleged misuse of local area development funds and government orders intended for public works to benefit the private campus.