ED seizes Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan's university in UP

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday attached Mohammad Azam Khan's prestigious Jauhar University in Uttar Pradesh, valued at around Rs 1,170 crore, as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation against the prominent Samajwadi Party leader. The attachment order, issued under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), freezes the university's assets as the investigation proceeds.

Azam Khan, a former state minister and senior SP member, has faced multiple ED investigations in recent years relating to alleged financial irregularities and money laundering. The university, established in his parliamentary constituency, has been a significant educational institution in the region and remains a notable asset linked to the politician.

The action represents a significant development in the agency's multi-pronged investigation into Khan's business interests and financial transactions. The ED has previously scrutinized various commercial and educational ventures associated with the leader as part of its broader inquiry into alleged unexplained wealth accumulation.

Assets attached under the PMLA can be released only after investigation concludes and the agency files a prosecution complaint before the court. The attachment of such a substantial asset underscores the scale of financial scrutiny the political leader continues to face from central investigating agencies.