Now Reading: ED raids 10 locations linked to Azam Khan’s trust, university
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ED raids 10 locations linked to Azam Khan’s trust, university
The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday conducted searches at 10 premises in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur and Saharanpur and Delhi's Jamia Nagar linked to the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, founded by jailed Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan. The searches were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act based on a UP Police FIR.
The ED is investigating the alleged diversion of government contract funds through private contractors, which were subsequently used to create assets for the trust and university. Officials said financial transactions between contractors and the trust have been uncovered, with contractors suspected of diverting funds through donations and construction payments. The agency is tracing proceeds of crime and recovering financial records and digital evidence.
The raids have drawn political reactions. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of being hostile to education and conducting vendetta politics, listing alleged corruption cases where no action was taken. UP minister Danish Azad Ansari defended the action, alleging public money was misused and land illegally occupied for the university. Congress state chief Ajay Rai said Khan was being harassed.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Pro-government outlets like Times of India and India Today led with the ED action and UP minister Ansari's defence of the searches, framing it as a corruption probe. Critical outlets like National Herald and Hindustan Times led with opposition accusations of political vendetta, foregrounding Akhilesh Yadav's detailed attack on the BJP. The measured read: both the alleged fund diversion and the pattern of legal action against an opposition figure are facts, but the story's political framing depends on which side's context you lead with. Watch for the ED's next move and whether the demolition controversy over the university's buildings re-emerges.
Coverage: 7 sources, 2 government-critical, 5 neutral
Sources (7): timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), nationalheraldindia.com (neutral report), timesnownews.com (neutral report), indiatoday.in (neutral report), nationalheraldindia.com (2) (government critical), hindustantimes.com (neutral report), hindustantimes.com (2) (government critical)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 7 sources linked above. Methodology and corrections.
Updated: this story now draws on 7 sources.
