A car bomb detonated near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10, 2025, at 6:03 PM UTC, killing three and injuring over 20. What began as a routine terror attack quickly unraveled into a sprawling investigation exposing deep-rooted terror networks tied to Al-Falah University in Faridabad — a private institution once marketed as a hub for medical and engineering education, now under siege as the epicenter of a decade-old jihadist pipeline.
From Classroom to Bomb Factory
The trail led straight back to Mirza Shadab Beg, a former B.Tech graduate in Electronics and Instrumentation from Al-Falah Engineering College (now part of Al-Falah University), who completed his degree in 2007. Police records show Beg wasn’t just a student — he was a recruiter, a planner, and a key operative of the Indian Mujahideen (IM). He was directly involved in the July 26, 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts that killed 56 and injured over 200. He also played a role in the 2007 Gorakhpur blast and the infamous 2008 Batla House encounter, where two IM militants were killed during a police raid in Delhi.According to Jagran’s November 23, 2025 report, Beg was the critical link between the Azamgarh terror module and Delhi’s student network. He conducted reconnaissance for both the Ahmedabad and Delhi attacks. Police say he even personally scouted India Gate before the November 10 bombing — a detail confirmed by recovered CCTV footage and intercepted communications.
University as Terror Hub
What makes this case chilling is how institutional the network appears. Faridabad Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) on November 15, 2025, after discovering that over 200 doctors, lecturers, and administrative staff at Al-Falah University are under scrutiny. The National Investigation Agency (NIA), Delhi Police Special Cell, Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP ATS), and Jammu-Kashmir Police are all operating from a temporary command center inside the university campus.On November 20, 2025, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) joined the probe — not just for terror financing, but to trace how funds flowed through fake charity trusts linked to university faculty. NDTV reported that several doctors were found to have ties to Jaish-e-Mohammed, using their hospital access to smuggle explosives in medical equipment.
Doctors, Lockers, and Hidden Networks
The investigation expanded beyond the university to the adjacent Government Medical College (GMC). Authorities are now searching lockers — unclaimed, dusty, and long ignored — where bomb-making components and ideological literature were found. Hospital administrators have been ordered to digitize locker records and ban anonymous access.Live Hindustan reported on November 22, 2025, that at least five doctors affiliated with Al-Falah have been arrested since November 18. One, Dr. Umar un Nabi — the suicide bomber who died in the Red Fort blast — was a former lab technician at the university’s medical wing. He wasn’t an outlier. According to AajTak’s November 21 report, investigators found a list of 17 potential suicide operatives trained on campus under the guise of "community health outreach programs."
"This wasn’t radicalization in isolation," said a senior NIA officer speaking anonymously. "It was a system. The university provided cover, credibility, and access."
Who’s Behind It All?
The spotlight has now turned to Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, chairman of Al-Falah University. Siddiqui, a former academic from Lucknow, has avoided media since the blast. But YouTube footage from November 20, 2025, shows security forces surveying his property in Mahu, near Indore, Madhya Pradesh. Sources say bulldozer action — a controversial but increasingly common tool in terror-linked asset seizures — is being considered.What’s striking is how long this went unnoticed. Amar Ujala reported on November 20, 2025, that Al-Falah’s name had surfaced during the 2008 Ahmedabad investigation — but the lead was dropped due to jurisdictional confusion between Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat police. Now, with three states involved — Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh — that silence has been shattered.
Why This Matters
This isn’t just about one university. It’s about how educational institutions can be weaponized. For years, Al-Falah marketed itself as a "modern, secular campus." But behind closed doors, it became a pipeline: engineering students radicalized, medical staff providing cover, administrative staff turning a blind eye for payoffs. The 2007–2008 terror wave didn’t emerge from nowhere. It was cultivated.The government’s response has been swift — but late. The same pattern repeats: after a blast, agencies scramble. Before it, nobody asks the hard questions. The 2008 Ahmedabad blasts were the first red flag. The 2015 Pathankot attack had similar links. Now, in 2025, we’re seeing the full picture.
What’s Next?
More arrests are expected. The NIA has requested access to student records from 2005 to 2015. A nationwide audit of private universities with weak oversight is rumored to be in the works. Meanwhile, families of the victims in Delhi are demanding accountability — not just from the bombers, but from those who enabled them.For now, the campus remains sealed. The lecture halls are quiet. But the files are still being opened. And with each one, another layer of the truth comes to light.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Al-Falah University escape scrutiny for so long?
Al-Falah operated under the radar due to its private status and political connections. Unlike public universities, it faced minimal audits from the UGC or NCERT. Its medical college was approved under a 2006 state policy that prioritized expansion over oversight. The 2008 Ahmedabad blast investigation flagged the university, but jurisdictional disputes between Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat police led to the case being shelved — a failure that allowed the network to regroup.
Who is Mirza Shadab Beg, and why is he significant?
Mirza Shadab Beg was a 2007 B.Tech graduate of Al-Falah Engineering College and a core operative of the Indian Mujahideen. He planned the 2008 Ahmedabad blasts, the 2007 Gorakhpur attack, and helped connect Delhi’s student radicalization network with Azamgarh-based bomb-makers. He was wanted in at least five major blast cases and was believed to be the operational bridge between local recruiters and international terror financiers. His death in 2010 remains unconfirmed — but his influence persists.
What role did doctors play in the terror network?
Doctors provided medical cover, access to controlled substances, and logistical support. Some used hospital lockers to store explosives disguised as lab equipment. Others provided fake medical certificates to help suspects travel under the guise of treatment. At least three doctors linked to Al-Falah were found to have received funding from Jaish-e-Mohammed through hawala channels disguised as "charity donations" to hospital welfare funds.
Is this an isolated case, or are other universities at risk?
This is not isolated. At least seven private universities in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been flagged by the NIA for similar patterns: weak faculty vetting, anonymous donor funding, and unmonitored student groups. Al-Falah is the first to be fully exposed, but the pattern — radicalization masked as academic excellence — is emerging elsewhere. The government is now reviewing all private institutions with medical or engineering programs established between 2003 and 2010.
What’s the timeline of key events tied to Al-Falah University?
2005–2007: Mirza Shadab Beg studies at Al-Falah Engineering College. 2007: Gorakhpur blast — Beg’s first known operational role. July 26, 2008: Ahmedabad serial blasts — Beg directly involved. September 2008: Batla House encounter — IM operatives linked to Al-Falah killed. November 10, 2025: Delhi Red Fort blast — suicide bomber Dr. Umar un Nabi, a former university lab technician. November 15, 2025: Faridabad Police form SIT. November 20, 2025: ED joins probe; Jawad Siddiqui’s property targeted.
What actions are being taken against Al-Falah University now?
The university’s operations are suspended pending a forensic audit. All faculty and staff are under investigation. The UGC has frozen its funding grants. The Ministry of Education is considering derecognizing its medical and engineering programs. Bulldozer action is being prepared for properties owned by Jawad Ahmad Siddiqui, and a special tribunal may be formed to try those implicated in terror financing under the UAPA.