Delhi High Court allows university head seven-day parole to care for sick wife

The Delhi High Court allowed seven days of custody parole to Al Falah University chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui on Friday to look after his sick wife. Siddiqui is currently detained in connection with two separate financial crime investigations.

Court Plea

Siddiqui approached the court asking for temporary release on medical and humanitarian grounds. He stated that his wife suffers from stage-four ovarian cancer and requires her next round of chemotherapy on November 10. The Enforcement Directorate opposed the request due to the gravity of the charges against him. Agency lawyers argued that he might flee and pointed to his criminal history, which includes links to the November 2025 car blast near the Red Fort.

Case Details

Siddiqui faces charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following his arrest on November 18, 2025. Investigators claim he generated illegal money from student fee collections at the institution. This probe began after Delhi Police filed First Information Reports stating that the university tricked students and families by falsely claiming it held approvals from the University Grants Commission and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council. The university previously drew attention during a white-collar terror investigation that led to the arrest of two associated doctors and identified another as the suicide bomber in the November 10 Red Fort explosion that claimed 15 lives. Back in July, the high court had denied him temporary bail but allowed him brief escorted meetings with his wife on three separate dates.

Context

Custody parole allows an inmate to leave detention temporarily under police watch for specific family or medical emergencies. Courts weigh humanitarian needs against the risk of the accused escaping or interfering with ongoing criminal proceedings.