The investigation into the recent car explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort has now widened and moved all the way to Mhow in Madhya Pradesh.

Agencies working on the case reportedly discovered possible links between the explosion and certain doctors associated with Al-Falah University in Faridabad. Because of this connection, the functioning and background of the University have come under the scanner of different investigating bodies. Early reports in national media also mention that agencies are examining financial patterns and personal associations that may shed more light on the blast case. 

As part of this expanding investigation, the Mhow Police arrested Hamood Siddiqui on Sunday (16th November) from Hyderabad. Officials confirmed his arrest the following day, Monday (17th November). Hamood is the younger brother of Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, who serves as the Chancellor of Al-Falah University. The police have stated that this arrest is directly related to renewed scrutiny of the Siddiqui family during the ongoing blast-related inquiries.

Accused Missing for 25 Years in a High-Profile Fraud Case

According to multiple media reports, Hamood had been missing for nearly 25 years. During this period, he managed to stay out of sight while facing serious allegations. He was accused of running a chit fund and investment scheme in Mhow through which he promised to double the money invested by local residents. These promises attracted a large number of people, including businessmen as well as salaried middle-class families who were looking for safe investment options. Instead of returning their money, Hamood allegedly siphoned off several crores and disappeared.

Superintendent of Police (Rural), Yangchen Dolkar Bhutia, explained to reporters that three cases were registered against Hamood Siddiqui in 2000 under Section 420 (cheating) of the Indian Penal Code, along with other related legal provisions. She also confirmed that two additional cases were filed at Mhow police station in 1988 and 1989 on charges related to rioting and an attempt to murder. These older cases show that Hamood had a long and complicated record with the law even before the large-scale financial scam came to light.

The police further stated that “A reward of Rs 10,000 was announced for Hamood Siddiqui’s arrest in 2019,” a reminder of how urgently authorities wanted to locate him after years of failed attempts.

Earlier on Monday (17th November), Mhow Sub-Divisional Officer of Police, Lalit Singh Sikarwar, told PTI that “Hamood vanished from Mhow in 2000 after allegedly establishing a bogus private bank and luring hundreds of residents with promises of doubling their deposits. He had fled with his family soon after the scam surfaced, leaving authorities searching for him for decades. He was arrested in Hyderabad on Sunday.” This statement highlights the magnitude of the financial fraud and the level of betrayal felt by the victims who trusted him with their life savings.

Officials added that the arrest was possible only after the Mhow police revisited the background of Jawad Siddiqui. When his local connections came into focus during the Red Fort blast investigation, fresh leads emerged, and the search for Hamood intensified. Indore Rural Police officials confirmed that they had been trying to locate Hamood for many years, but he went underground as soon as he realised the police were closing in. There was a long period during which investigators had no trace of him.

However, once central agencies began questioning people during the Red Fort blast probe, investigators started discovering new information. These new leads eventually helped the police identify Hamood’s possible movements and track him down.

Accusations of Using Investment Firms to Move Large Sums of Money

According to police sources, once the Delhi blast investigation indicated a link to Mhow, authorities began reviewing older financial and legal records related to Jawad Siddiqui and his family. During this process, earlier fraud cases resurfaced, and the search for Hamood accelerated. Investigators suspect that Jawad may have established a firm named “Al-Falah Investment Company” in the name of his absconding brother. Through this company, they believe that large amounts of money were collected from local residents, possibly using the same methods as the original scam. This angle is now a major part of the ongoing inquiry.

Lived in Hyderabad as a Share Trader for Years

During the 25 years that he was missing, Hamood reportedly lived in Hyderabad under a different identity. He introduced himself to people as a share trader and maintained a low profile to avoid detection. Investigators traced him by observing his relatives’ activities and tracking communication networks. Once they confirmed his location, a police team travelled to Hyderabad and arrested him. Officers stated that he was running a firm called Richcom Private Ltd during this period.

Hamood will now be brought back to Mhow, where police will examine his financial dealings, the people he interacted with, and how the siphoned money was moved over the last two decades. Authorities believe that uncovering the financial trail will reveal several more layers of the scam. His questioning is expected to provide important clues not only about the fraud cases but also about the new angles emerging in connection to the Red Fort blast probe.