On Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) held Azam Khan for nearly eight hours in Rampur jail, probing alleged money laundering tied to the Jauhar Trust and Mohammad Ali Jauhar University. The interrogation was part of a broader probe into suspicious land deals.
The trust, established in 2019, has faced scrutiny over its acquisition of agricultural land and government property. Allegations say the trust secured plots from local farmers and seized state-owned land through covert transactions.
Twenty‑seven FIRs filed by Uttar Pradesh Police cite cheating, extortion, forgery and conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code. The ED is investigating under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, tracing financial flows and asset acquisitions.
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Nitin Kumar called the questioning a "witch‑hunt", alleging that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is framing Khan to settle personal scores. The party demands a fair inquiry and rebuffs any political vendetta.
The ED has not yet announced charges, but it will continue to audit the trust's donations and land transactions, with a court hearing expected in the coming weeks.