The Delhi High Court on Monday reserved its order on the interim bail plea of Jawad Ahmed Siddiqui, Chairman of the Al Falah Trust, in two money laundering cases registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Siddiqui had sought six weeks’ interim bail on medical grounds, citing the deteriorating health condition of his wife, who is suffering from cancer. Justice Saurabh Banerjee reserved the order after hearing arguments from both Siddiqui’s counsel and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Senior advocate Vikram Choudhary, assisted by Talib Mustafa, appeared for Siddiqui and submitted that his wife was seriously ill and undergoing chemotherapy. He argued that she required her husband’s presence and support. Choudhary further submitted that Siddiqui’s two sons were outside India, with one working and the other pursuing his studies.

The counsel’s submission stating that the petitioner may be asked to wear a GPS band if the ED was concerned about him being a flight risk were countered by the ED. On June 24, the ED had filed a reply opposing the interim bail plea of Jawad Ahmed Siddique in the Al Falah Trust money laundering case. The ED said the accused was the principal architect and beneficiary of the tuition fee collected on the basis of a fraudulent NAAC accreditation claim. It said there was a strong likelihood that if the accused was released on bail, he may dissipate or conceal the proceeds of the crime.