A Delhi court on Friday granted two weeks of interim bail to Al Falah University chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui in the money laundering case being investigated by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED).

The University had come under scanner after the security agencies revealed that Dr Umar Nabi, who carried out the Red Fort blast last year, had been employed there.

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sheetal Chaudhary Pradhan of the Saket court allowed the interim bail plea filed by Siddiqui under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Siddiqui had sought temporary release from custody, stating that his wife, Usma Akhtar, is suffering from stage-IV metastatic ovarian cancer and is undergoing aggressive chemotherapy at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi.

According to the application, Akhtar had earlier undergone debulking surgery in June 2024 and is currently undergoing a third line of chemotherapy treatment. It was argued that Siddiqui has been in judicial custody since November 18, 2025, and that his wife is living alone while battling the advanced stage of cancer.

However, the ED argued that Siddiqui's wife has been receiving regular medical care since 2024 and that other family members could assist her during treatment. The agency also highlighted the seriousness of the allegations, stating that Siddiqui is accused in multiple predicate offences involving large-scale financial wrongdoing and that another FIR under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is pending against him.

After considering the case, the Court noted that he deserves to be released on interim bail because his wife is unwell and chargesheet has been filed in the case.

Advocates Arshdeep Singh Khurrana, Talib Mustafa, Vishvendra Tomar, Abhishek Singh, Shubh Mathur, Ketan Kumar Roy and Harsh Shrivastava represented Siddiqui.

Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Simon Benjamin represented ED.

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