Lucknow: Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday questioned senior Samajwadi Party functionary and former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan at Rampur jail in connection with a money-laundering probe linked to Jauhar Trust and Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, officials said.
The case is being investigated under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. A three-member ED team visited the prison and recorded Khan’s statement for around eight hours as part of the investigation into alleged illegal land acquisition, suspected financial irregularities and the utilisation of funds for the university’s development.
The university, through its chancellor Azam Khan and others, allegedly acquired land belonging to farmers as well as “enemy property” under the control of govt of India, according to the agency’s investigation. Last week, ED questioned Samajwadi Party MLA Naseer Ahmad Khan, a former joint secretary of Jauhar Trust, for nearly seven hours in the same case, sources said. ED doing its work, says minister Reacting to ED’s questioning of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, Uttar Pradesh minister Jaiveer Singh said the probe into Mohammad Ali Jauhar University had been underway for a long time and included scrutiny of donors linked to the institution. He said the investigation uncovered alleged financial irregularities and discrepancies, prompting questioning of several individuals.
The allegations remain under investigation and have not, by themselves, established criminal liability. Singh described ED’s action as part of the ongoing investigative process and rejected suggestions of political motivation, asserting that the agency was simply carrying out its assigned duties.