ED raids include Saharanpur chartered accountant, part of wider probe into Jauhar Trust
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at multiple locations in Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in a money‑laundering inquiry linked to the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and Mohammad Ali Jauhar University, officials said. The agency's Lucknow Zonal Office conducted operations at sites in Rampur, Saharanpur and Delhi under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
The ED said the action formed part of an investigation into the alleged diversion of funds that had been routed through private contractors after being received for government contracts, and subsequently employed in construction and asset creation associated with the trust and the university in Rampur.
"The investigation relates to the alleged diversion of funds received through government contracts via private contractors and the subsequent use of those funds in assets and construction‑related activities associated with the trust and the university," the agency said.
ED teams examined financial records, banking transactions, digital material and documents at the locations searched to establish the source, movement and ultimate utilisation of the funds, the agency added.
- Searches in Saharanpur were conducted at the office of chartered accountant Deepak Gupta in Silva Market, Ambala Road, and at his residence in Green Park Colony on Delhi Road.
- In Rampur, premises of the Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar Trust and the university in Johar Nagar were covered, along with several private contractors' offices and residences.
- Premises linked to an individual associated with M/s Johar Associates in Delhi were also searched.
The ED named specific Rampur locations where searches took place, including M/s A & S Enterprises on Shaukat Ali Road, the premises of M/s CK Associates Private Limited at Jwala Palace in Peepal Tola, and the residence of the director of the company, Pawan Kumar Jain, in Gangapur Awas Vikas. Another search targeted premises linked to Shaheen Khan on Jail Road, Rampur.
| District | Locations Searched |
|---|---|
| Rampur | Trust and university premises; M/s A & S Enterprises; M/s CK Associates; residences including director's house and premises linked to Shaheen Khan |
| Saharanpur | Office and residence of CA Deepak Gupta |
| Delhi | Premises linked to Syed Khalid of M/s Johar Associates (Jasola, Jamia Nagar) |
Officials said the probe has identified financial transactions between certain private contractors and the Jauhar Trust that include substantial donations and payments tied to construction work. The ED's enquiry aims to trace the trail of funds to determine whether loans, donations or contract payments were diverted for unauthorised uses.
Local observers in Saharanpur said the searches of a chartered accountant's office and home reflect the agency's widening focus beyond institutional accounts to individual intermediaries and professional facilitators. The presence of ED teams in the city prompted inquiries from clients and local businesses who sought clarity on whether their transactions could be subject to scrutiny.
The search operation follows the ED's standard procedure of collecting digital evidence, bank records and accounting documents to corroborate suspicions of proceeds of crime. No chargesheet had been filed at the time of the searches, and the agency did not announce any arrests in its initial statement.
For residents and local practitioners in Saharanpur, the ED action underlines increased regulatory attention on financial flows linked to trusts, private contractors and higher‑education entities. Any further developments, including potential summonses or formal action, are likely to be communicated by the ED's Lucknow Zonal Office as the investigation progresses.
The matter has resonance beyond the districts directly raided: alleged misuse of funds tied to contracts and construction can affect public confidence in institutions that receive government work. The probe's findings will be closely watched by stakeholders in Rampur and by professionals in Saharanpur whose records were examined during the searches.
