While the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) has suspended the membership of the Faridabad-based Al-Falah University with immediate effect on Thursday following scrutiny related to the Red Fort car blast on November 10, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has issued a show-cause notice to the institution for misleading the public about its accreditation status.

The council questioned why legal proceedings should not be initiated against the university for falsely claiming NAAC recognition on its website.The controversy deepened after the university was linked to the recent Red Fort blast in Delhi, which killed 13 people. Investigations revealed that Dr. Umar Nabi, identified as the prime suspect behind the attack, was employed at Al-Falah University and Hospital, located in Dhauj village, Faridabad.

Authorities further disclosed that two other staff members — Dr. Muzamil Shakeel Ganai and Dr. Shaheen Saeed of the Al-Falah School of Medical Sciences and Research Centre — were also under investigation for alleged ties to the terror module.In a statement issued Tuesday, the university sought to distance itself from the accused, asserting that it had “no connection with the two doctors” apart from their professional association with the institution.

The NAAC notice, however, raised separate concerns about the university’s public claims, stating: “It has been brought to the notice of NAAC that Al-Falah University, which is neither accredited nor has applied for Cycle-1 Assessment and Accreditation, has publicly displayed misleading information suggesting that its constituent colleges — including Al-Falah School of Engineering and Technology and Al-Falah School of Education and Training — are NAAC ‘A’ graded. This is false and deceptive to students, parents, and other stakeholders.”

Meanwhile, investigators have found that Room No. 13 in Building 17 of the university’s boys’ hostel allegedly served as the hub for the terror group’s planning. The modest hostel room reportedly functioned as a meeting point for the “white-collar” terror module, where plans for a series of attacks in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were discussed.

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