An investigation by India Today has revealed major regulatory violations at the heart of the recently busted “white-collar” terror module operating out of Haryana’s Al-Falah University. None of the four doctors linked to the module—Dr Muzzamil Shakeel, Dr Shaheen Shaheed, Dr Adil Ahmed Rather, and Dr Muzzafar Ahmed—secured the mandatory No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) from their respective state medical councils before taking up medical and teaching positions at the Faridabad-based university. This is a direct violation of National Medical Commission (NMC) rules, which require doctors relocating across states to obtain an NOC from their previous state council and register with the one in the new state.
Despite these regulations, all four doctors bypassed the mandatory clearance process, raising serious concerns about the verification and hiring mechanisms at Al-Falah University. According to officials, the lapses indicate that the university likely failed to conduct even basic background checks, potentially enabling individuals with extremist links to operate without scrutiny.
The terror module, backed by Jaish-e-Mohammed, was exposed last week when Faridabad police recovered nearly 2,900 kilograms of explosive-making material from premises rented by Dr Muzzamil. Following this, his associate, Dr Shaheen—who investigators say was preparing to establish a women’s wing of Jaish in India—was arrested after a rifle and cartridges were recovered from her car. Dr Adil was taken into custody soon after.
The situation escalated further on November 10, when Dr Umar Nabi—another doctor associated with the group and formerly employed by Al-Falah University—detonated his Hyundai i20 near Delhi’s Red Fort, killing 14 people and injuring around 30 others. Umar had previously been dismissed from GMC Anantnag after a patient died due to his negligence, yet he was later hired by Al-Falah without proper documentation or oversight.
Each of the arrested doctors’ medical registrations has since been cancelled by the NMC, which has announced new efforts to tighten inter-state registration norms. Officials said fresh guidelines will soon be issued to medical colleges to strengthen compliance and ensure stricter verification practices.
The scandal has triggered a broader crackdown on Al-Falah University. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has already revoked the university’s membership. Additionally, the Delhi Police have registered two FIRs against the institution on charges of forgery and cheating. The Enforcement Directorate is also investigating financial irregularities and has arrested Al-Falah founder and chairman Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui in a money-laundering case. Investigators are now probing whether the university’s funds or administrative lapses played any role in facilitating terror-linked operations.
The case has raised urgent questions about regulatory loopholes, university governance, and the risk posed by inadequate vetting in educational and medical institutions. Authorities say the investigation is expanding and more arrests and institutional actions are likely.
