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New Delhi: A Delhi court has granted two-week interim bail to Al-Falah group chairman Jawed Siddiqui in a money-laundering case, allowing him to care for his wife, who is undergoing treatment for stage-4 ovarian cancer.

Additional Sessions Judge Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan passed the order, observing that Siddiqui’s wife is currently undergoing chemotherapy and requires emotional and physical support during the course of her treatment.

“After considering all the present facts and circumstances, I am of the considered view that the applicant/accused deserves to be enlarged on interim bail as the wife of the accused is unwell,” the court said in its order.

Court Notes Lack of Family Support

The court took note of medical records submitted before it, which confirmed that Siddiqui’s wife is undergoing chemotherapy at a Delhi hospital. The court also observed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) did not dispute the authenticity of the medical documents placed on record.

Importantly, the judge noted that the couple’s three children are studying in the UAE and are unable to travel to India, leaving the woman without immediate family support during her treatment.

“The wife of the accused/applicant requires care and support, which cannot be ignored. It is also a fact that she does not have her family or children beside her, and it is only the accused/applicant, being her husband, who is required to give her support,” the court said. Considering these humanitarian circumstances, the court granted Siddiqui interim bail for two weeks, subject to several strict conditions.

Bail Subject to Conditions

Siddiqui, who was arrested on November 18, 2025, in a case registered by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), will be released after furnishing a personal bond of ₹1 lakh along with a surety of the same amount.

The court directed him to remain within the Delhi-NCR region unless permitted otherwise, keep his mobile phone switched on at all times, and surrender his passport to the investigating agency. He has also been barred from contacting witnesses or the complainant during his interim release.

ED Opposed Bail Plea

The ED opposed Siddiqui’s plea for interim bail, arguing that he was involved in serious economic offences and that his release could potentially influence witnesses or hamper the ongoing investigation.

However, the court noted that Siddiqui had cooperated with the investigation so far and had not attempted to evade the law since the case was registered.

The judge observed that any apprehensions raised by the ED could be adequately addressed through appropriate bail conditions, rather than denying relief in what the court viewed as a humanitarian situation.

Background of the Case

The ED’s money-laundering investigation stems from two FIRs registered by the Delhi Police Crime Branch. The complaints alleged that institutions run by the Al-Falah Charitable Trust, including a private university, misled students and parents by falsely projecting accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) and recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC).

According to the ED, the university generated ₹415.1 crore between 2018 and 2025, allegedly by collecting fees from students under the pretext of recognised courses. Investigators claim that a portion of these funds was diverted for personal use rather than utilised for academic purposes.

Siddiqui was also arrested earlier in connection with alleged forgery and irregularities at the private university. On Friday, he was produced before the court after completing a 14-day judicial custody granted on January 31.

Wider Scrutiny Around the Institution

The Al-Falah group has also come under scrutiny in another high-profile investigation described by authorities as a “white-collar terror” probe. In that case, two doctors linked to the university were arrested.

Investigators have alleged that Umar-un-Nabi, a doctor associated with the university’s hospital, was identified as the suicide bomber behind the November 10 blast outside the Red Fort, an attack that killed 15 people.

While the terror investigation is being pursued separately, the revelations have intensified scrutiny of the institutions linked to the Al-Falah network. For now, however, the court has granted Siddiqui temporary relief on humanitarian grounds, allowing him a brief period outside custody to care for his ailing wife as she undergoes intensive cancer treatment.