Muhammad Ali Jauhar Trust under scrutiny as authorities allege unaccounted funds
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – The Income Tax Department has ordered the recovery of ₹550 crore from Rampur’s Muhammad Ali Jauhar Trust, which is linked to the incarcerated senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan.
Khan, who has been in Hardoi jail since October 2023 over separate allegations of illegal land acquisition, now faces further scrutiny over the trust’s finances.
Officials claim the trust could not provide documentation to explain the source of ₹350 crore used for Jauhar University, an institution established when Mulayam Singh Yadav was Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister.
After a prolonged investigation, the Income Tax Department found only ₹100 crore of the ₹450 crore spent on construction duly accounted for. “Our raids on properties linked to Azam Khan and his associates uncovered serious financial irregularities,” said a senior IT official involved in the case. “The trust failed to provide valid explanations for these transactions, leading to the recovery order.”
Khan’s legal troubles have long been a subject of political debate, with his supporters alleging that the cases against him are motivated by his opposition status. A close aide of Khan denied any wrongdoing, stating, “These accusations are completely false. The trust has always followed legal procedures, and the university was built to serve the community.”
Political analyst Rajeev Mishra noted, “When high-profile financial actions target opposition figures, questions about fairness naturally arise.”
With Khan still in prison and the latest financial probe adding to his challenges, the case continues to draw attention. Authorities maintain that their actions are based solely on legal and financial findings, but critics argue that the situation reflects broader tensions in Uttar Pradesh’s political environment.
