ED Likely to Conduct Forensic Audit of Al Falah University's Records

Al Falah University in Faridabad's Dhauj village is facing scrutiny from multiple central agencies following the deadly November 10 Red Fort terror attack. The Enforcement Directorate will likely conduct a forensic audit of the university's financial records as investigations deepen into the blast that killed 13 people.

False Accreditation Claims Surface

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council has served the university a show-cause notice for displaying misleading accreditation information on its website. The notice revealed that Al Falah falsely claimed two of its institutes—the School of Engineering and Technology, and the School of Education and Training—held current 'A' grade accreditations.

Records show the engineering school's accreditation expired in March 2018, while the education department's lapsed in March 2016. Neither institution applied for the subsequent Cycle-2 assessment process, yet the university continued promoting outdated credentials. 

"It has been brought to NAAC's notice that Al Falah University publicly displayed that its constituent colleges were 'Graded A by NAAC,' despite neither being accredited nor volunteering for Cycle-1 assessment," the notice stated.

NAAC has demanded the university explain why legal action shouldn't be initiated and future accreditation eligibility revoked. The council also questioned why it shouldn't recommend that UGC and the National Medical Commission withdraw recognition of the university and its approved programs.

Following the notice, the university's website was taken down entirely.

Terror Links Trigger Investigation

The developments follow a high-level meeting chaired by Home Minister Amit Shah reviewing the Red Fort blast investigation. Three university staff members—Dr Umer un-Nabi, Dr Muzammil Ganaie, and Dr Shaheen Saeed—have been linked to the car explosion outside the historic monument.

The Association of Indian Universities has suspended Al Falah's membership with immediate effect, citing that the university "does not appear to be in good standing" based on media reports. AIU bylaws require member institutions to maintain good standing. The association ordered the university to remove its logo from all materials.

University's Response

In a Wednesday statement, Al Falah University claimed it was extending "full cooperation to investigating agencies to ensure a logical, fair and conclusive determination" regarding matters of national security. However, officials from the National Medical Commission, which regulates medical education, indicated further action would depend on investigation outcomes. The council oversees several programs at the university that could face recognition issues if irregularities are confirmed.

NAAC guidelines explicitly prohibit institutions from using expired accreditation status in public communications, making the university's claims a serious violation beyond mere administrative oversight.