ED case against the former madrassa teacher who drew UP government salary staying in UK

LUCKNOW: Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered on Thursday a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Maulana Shamsul Huda Khan, a govt-recognised madrassa teacher from Azamgarh who fraudulently drew salary and retirement benefits for a decade while living abroad, acquiring British citizenship, and allegedly nurturing links with Pakistan-based religious networks.ED sources said Huda amassed properties worth Rs 33 crore and cash worth Rs 5 crore from suspicious entities. Officials termed the case as "one of the most extraordinary instances of administrative collusion and systemic breakdown" in the state's madrassa education framework.Action was initiated following multiple FIRs, an ATS probe, and a detailed reference sent by police authorities in Sant Kabir Nagar flagging suspected foreign funding, misuse of NGO structures, and ideological influence operations in eastern UP. According to official records, Huda was a serving madrassa assistant teacher, regularly availing medical leave, updating service records, and ultimately securing voluntary retirement in 2017 with full benefits. However, Huda left India in 2007, settled in the United Kingdom, and obtained British citizenship by 2013. Despite his absence, he received his salary uninterrupted for 10 years, estimated to be Rs 16 lakh, apart from pension benefits.

ED is scrutinising Huda's bank accounts and foreign investments. Uttar Pradesh govt initiated a crackdown on Nov 22, suspending four senior officials of minority welfare department for allegedly facilitating illegal salary disbursal, sanctioning unauthorised leave, and clearing documents related to voluntary retirement. An FIR was filed against Huda under Section 318(4) (cheating) of the BNS and relevant provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999. Two more FIRs - one in Azamgarh for cheating and forgery, and another in Sant Kabir Nagar for allegedly concealing British citizenship and waging war against India - were lodged against him.