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The Supreme Court recently granted five days' parole to Al-Falah Group chairman Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, who is in custody in two money laundering cases linked to the Enforcement Directorate's probe into the Al-Falah group. The relief was granted to enable him to be with his wife, who is suffering from Stage-IV cancer.

A bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Prasanna B Varale directed that Siddiqui be released on parole from September 18 and report back to prison on September 23 by 4.30 pm.

The Court noted that Siddiqui's wife's Stage-IV cancer was not in dispute. It also held that the Delhi High Court's observation that other members of the family could take care of her could not be the basis for refusing parole.

“We take note of the fact that the ailment of the wife of the appellant, being a stage IV cancer patient, is not in dispute. The observations made by the High Court that others in the family can take care of her cannot be the basis for refusing to grant parole, specifically in view of the ailment of the wife. In such view of the matter, we are inclined to and accordingly grant parole for a period of five days starting from 18th September, 2026 along with an escort for which the cost will be borne by the appellant,” the Court said.

Siddiqui is facing prosecution in two money laundering cases. The ED's money laundering probe into the Al-Falah Group followed two FIRs registered by the Delhi Police Crime Branch alleging that Al-Falah University had made false and misleading claims regarding NAAC accreditation and UGC recognition to mislead students, parents and other stakeholders for unlawful gains.

The university also came under the scanner during the investigation into the November 2025 Red Fort blast. Two doctors associated with the university, Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie and Shaheen Saeed, were arrested by the NIA and Jammu and Kashmir Police. Another doctor associated with the university hospital, Umar-un-Nabi, is alleged to be the suicide bomber who drove the explosive-laden car that exploded outside the Red Fort.

The ED had arrested Siddiqui in November last year in the money laundering case. It subsequently filed a prosecution complaint against him and his charitable trust. On January 16, the agency attached land and buildings of Al-Falah University worth Rs.140 crore. The attached property comprises 54 acres of land and buildings in Faridabad's Dhauj area.

Siddiqui had approached the Delhi High Court seeking six weeks' interim bail under Section 483 of the BNSS, 2023 read with Section 45 of the PMLA. He relied on his wife's medical condition.

The High Court refused interim bail observing that his wife's reports did not show an impending emergency or critical condition. It found no material establishing that Siddiqui's presence was medically indispensable.

The High Court further considered the availability of other family members. Siddiqui's counsel had submitted that his parents and father-in-law were deceased, his mother-in-law was over 75 and suffered from multiple health conditions, and his three children were residing in the UAE. The ED, however, submitted that several adult family members lived nearby and could provide support to his wife. .

The High Court ultimately held that the statutory rigours governing bail could not be diluted merely on humanitarian grounds in the absence of an emergent or exceptional circumstance. It also noted the possibility of Siddiqui being a flight risk and influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence.

It nevertheless granted him custody parole for three days, on July 21, 23 and 25, to meet his wife at their residence. He was barred from meeting or interacting with anyone other than his wife.

The Supreme Court has now granted Siddiqui five days' parole from September 18.

Appearance –

For Petitioner: Mr. Siddharth Aggarwal, Sr. Adv. Mr. Vishvendra Tomar, Adv. Mr. Talib Mustafa, Adv. Mr. Abhishek Singh, Adv. Mr. Lzafeer Ahmad B.f., Adv. Mr. Shubh Mathur, Adv. Mr. Shariq Ahmad, Adv. Ms. Vanya Gupta, AOR Ms. Vismita Dewan, Adv. Mr. Vishwajeet Bhati, Adv.

For Respondent: Mr. Suryaprakash V. Raju, A.S.G. Mr. Zoheb Hossain, Sr. Adv. Ms. Sairica Raju, Adv. Mr. Animesh Upadhaya, Adv. Mr. Arvind Kumar Sharma, AOR Mr. Dr Arun Kumar Yadav, Adv.

Case no. – Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 14574-14575/2026

Case Title – Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui v. Directorate of Enforcement

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