White-Collar Terror Exposed?” ED Raids Rock Al-Falah University Across 25 Delhi-NCR Locations

The unfolding story

On November 18, 2025, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched massive searches at 25 sites across Delhi-NCR tied to Al-Falah University in Faridabad and its promoters’ offices in Okhla.

The raids form part of an investigation into what authorities describe as a “white-collar terror module”, linking academic institutions, professionals and alleged terror financing.

Key Facts

The university’s 70-acre campus in Faridabad (Dhauj area) and the Okhla head office were among the locations searched.The probe connects to the November 10 blast near Red Fort in Delhi, which killed at least 15 people.
In prior raids, investigators found large quantities of explosives and arms in rented flats near the university, which had been used by doctors affiliated with the university.The ED is examining financial trails under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), alongside the regulatory and criminal investigations already ongoing.
Regulatory bodies have flagged the university for alleged forgery and false accreditation claims: Two FIRs for cheating and forgery were filed recently by the Delhi Police’s Crime Branch, triggered by findings from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

Why this matters

This case goes beyond typical educational-institution fraud. It suggests:
— A blurring of the lines between legitimate academic activity and organized terror facilitation via “soft infrastructure” (professionals, medical staff, campus spaces).
— The role of financial networks and shell structures hiding behind educational institutions to funnel money, weapons or logistics.
— A wake-up call that private universities and trusts can become vulnerable entry-points for radicalization or terror support — especially when oversight is weak.
— The fact the raids are labelled “white-collar” terror underscores that modern terror threats may come not only via traditional radical cells, but via seemingly legitimate professionals and institutions.

What went wrong for Al-Falah University

Investigators found that doctors on the university’s faculty were implicated in the blast case. One doctor is alleged to have driven the car that exploded near the Red Fort.
Explosive-making material found connected to persons linked to the university: ~2,900 kg of IED material was reportedly discovered in rented premises near the university.Regulators flagged the university for false accreditation claims, raising questions about governance and oversight.
The university’s leadership came under scrutiny: summons issued to Chairman Javed Ahmad Siddiqui, and arrests in related fraud cases involving his brother.

Implications & next steps

The ED is likely to trace money flows, bring in forensic audits of the university’s accounts and trust operations, and possibly attach properties if violations of the PMLA are found.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other security agencies will continue to probe the terror logistics side — how professionals and campus infrastructure may have been misused.
Educational regulators may revisit governance standards for private universities: accreditation, management transparency, faculty verification, campus security protocols.
For students and parents: This is a reminder to check institutional credentials, transparency of operations, and broader reputational risks.

Human dimension

Imagine parents sending their children to a university believing in its academic reputation and future promise — only to find the institution under a terror financing cloud. It shakes trust in the education system and underscores how the veneer of legitimacy can be exploited.
For students currently enrolled, the cloud over their institution can impact their careers, transfer options and mental well-being. Universities need to earn trust — not just through marketing, but through rigorous governance, accountability and ethical framework.