Al-Falah University Responds After Doctors’ Arrests Expose Red Fort Blast Links

Amid mounting scrutiny following the Red Fort car blast and the Faridabad terror module bust, Al-Falah University has issued a formal statement denying any institutional link to the two doctors detained in the case.

The university called reports connecting it to the investigation “baseless and defamatory,” clarifying that the accused doctors were “associated only in their official teaching capacities” and that the institution had “no role whatsoever in their alleged activities.”

Faridabad Terror Module: Explosives, Rifles, and Doctors Under Watch

The controversy erupted after authorities uncovered 2,900 kg of ammonium nitrate and other inflammable materials from two rented rooms allegedly linked to Dr. Muzammil Shakeel, a Kashmiri doctor employed at Al-Falah Medical College, a constituent of the university.

During the same operation, police also seized a Krinkov assault rifle and live cartridges from a car registered to another doctor, Dr. Shaheen, who has since been detained for questioning.

According to investigators, the car was being used by Dr. Muzammil at the time of the raids.

The arrests are part of a wider probe into a multi-state terror conspiracy connected to the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) network. The case, now under the National Investigation Agency (NIA), has exposed what officials describe as a “white-collar terror ecosystem” — a network of educated professionals allegedly aiding extremist activities through encrypted communication and professional cover.

Doctors Under Scanner Across States

Authorities have linked the Faridabad seizure to a larger “doctor module” spanning Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Delhi NCR.

Among those arrested so far are:

• Dr. Muzammil Ahmad Ganaie (Shakeel) – accused of using medical lab materials for explosive experiments.

• Dr. Adeel Ahmad Rather – arrested from Saharanpur, previously detained in Srinagar for putting up Jaish-e-Mohammad propaganda posters.

• Dr. Shaheen Sayeed – accused of coordinating logistics and handling funds for the module.

• Dr. Parvez Ansari and Dr. Shaheen Shahid – arrested in Lucknow, where ATS recovered encrypted phones and data disks (see Lucknow Terror Bust report).

Investigators believe that Dr. Muzammil and Dr. Umar Un Nabi, based in Faridabad and Shopian respectively, were among the key planners behind the Red Fort car explosion that killed 10 people and injured 20 others on November 10.

University Distances Itself From Accused Staff

In a detailed statement released on Wednesday, Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) Bhupinder Kaur Anand confirmed that two doctors employed at Al-Falah had been detained by investigating agencies but stressed that the university had “no connection or involvement beyond their professional roles.”

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the unfortunate developments and condemn the same. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the innocent people affected by these distressing events,” the statement said.

The university emphasised that no chemicals, materials, or substances allegedly linked to the case were ever stored or handled within the institution’s premises.

“The university laboratories are used solely for academic and medical training purposes, under strict safety and ethical norms prescribed by regulatory authorities,” it added.

Al-Falah University: Background and Credentials

Established in 2014 and managed by the Al-Falah Group of Educational Institutions (active since 1997), the university is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under Sections 2(f) and 12(B) of the UGC Act, 1956.

Since 2019, the institution has been training undergraduate MBBS students, many of whom are now serving in hospitals and institutions across India and abroad.

The administration stressed that it operates under a rigorous compliance framework and adheres to statutory protocols governing medical education and laboratory use.

Strong Denial of Media Reports

The university categorically rejected online claims suggesting institutional complicity or lax oversight.

“We strongly condemn and categorically deny all such false and defamatory allegations. Certain platforms are deliberately spreading misleading stories to tarnish the reputation of the university,” the statement read.

Al-Falah urged journalists and the public to “verify facts through official channels before making or sharing statements”, adding that misinformation during an ongoing national security investigation could “harm both institutional integrity and due process.”

Female Network Under JeM Radar

Meanwhile, sources within the NIA and ATS have alleged that Dr. Shaheen, one of the detained doctors linked to the Lucknow raid, may have been recruited to establish a female operations wing of Jaish-e-Mohammad under the banner Jamaat-ul-Momineen.

Investigators say the network was designed to handle recruitment, logistics, and online radicalisation, primarily through encrypted social media platforms.

According to an officer familiar with the probe, “The aim was to create an underground support system of professionals — doctors, researchers, and students — who could work undetected while maintaining legitimate cover.”

Authorities are now examining whether academic institutions were exploited for storage, coordination, or recruitment purposes without their knowledge.

University Extends Cooperation With Agencies

The Al-Falah administration has stated that it is cooperating fully with law enforcement and security agencies.

“As a responsible institution, we reaffirm our commitment to the unity, peace, and security of our country. We are extending all possible assistance to the investigating authorities to ensure a fair and conclusive outcome,” said Prof. Anand.

The university also urged that students’ education should not be disrupted due to the ongoing investigation.

“Our students are sincerely engaged in acquiring education, and it is our duty to ensure that their studies continue in an atmosphere of peace, normalcy, and discipline,” the statement concluded.

The Broader Context

The Red Fort blast investigation, now handled by the NIA, has exposed how extremist groups are targeting educated professionals in medicine, technology, and academia — a phenomenon intelligence experts are calling “professional radicalisation.”

Officials describe the Faridabad module as an example of “terror in plain sight” — where individuals leverage academic networks, digital literacy, and access to resources to coordinate subversive acts.

As the NIA broadens its probe across six states, institutions like Al-Falah are finding themselves under unprecedented scrutiny, even as they fight to protect their reputations amid an evolving national security crisis.