ED Launches Probe Into Chhangur Baba’s Rs 106 Crore Foreign Funding in Religious Conversion Racket
ED Investigates Rs 106 Crore Foreign Funding in Chhangur Baba’s Religious Conversion Racket
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a sweeping investigation into Rs 106 crore worth of foreign funding received by Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba, the alleged mastermind behind a large-scale religious conversion racket operating in Uttar Pradesh. The probe, triggered by a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), centers around money received through over 40 bank accounts, many of which are linked to associates of Chhangur Baba.
According to ED sources quoted by multiple reports, the bulk of these funds originated from the Middle East and are suspected to have been used to coerce or lure vulnerable women and minors into religious conversion under the guise of social support, marriage, or financial aid.
Network of Illegal Conversions and Money Laundering
Chhangur Baba, a resident of Balrampur district near the India-Nepal border, was arrested on July 5 by the UP ATS. Alongside him, his close associate Neetu alias Nasreen was arrested in Lucknow. Additional arrests are expected as the probe expands.
Amitabh Yash, Additional Director General (Law and Order), stated that the accused operated a well-organized network targeting women and children from socially and economically weaker sections. The network allegedly employed tactics ranging from financial inducement and promises of marriage to threats and psychological coercion, directly violating the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021.
The ED is now investigating the inflow and usage of these foreign funds under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The agency aims to determine whether the massive financial transfers qualify as “proceeds of crime.”
Crores Transferred in Personal Accounts
The financial trail reveals staggering figures:
- Rs 13.9 crore was received in just four months in a single Bank of Baroda account belonging to Nasreen.
- Ghanshyam Rohera, another accused, reportedly received Rs 34 crore in two separate bank accounts.
These figures indicate a sophisticated and layered financial structure, possibly designed to evade detection and divert attention from the illicit activities they were funding.
Land Acquisitions and Illegal Construction
Investigators discovered that the network also amassed extensive property holdings. Properties valued at over Rs 100 crore were allegedly acquired in Balrampur and Pune:
- In Balrampur, land worth Rs 1.5 crore was purchased and developed into residential and commercial buildings without requisite permissions.
- In Pune, over 2 lakh sq ft of land was acquired for Rs 16 crore using shared agreements among stakeholders.
On Wednesday, authorities demolished an illegal building erected by Chhangur Baba near a shrine in Madhpur, just a few kilometers from his native village Rehra Mafi. The building, which housed Baba, his family, and aides, was fitted with 15 CCTV cameras and guard dogs—a testament to its strategic importance to the alleged operations.
Who is Chhangur Baba?
Once a humble street vendor selling amulets and rings, Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba gradually rose to prominence in his locality and even became a village head. But behind the scenes, he allegedly built a clandestine empire, amassing wealth worth Rs 106 crore.
Authorities believe his rise was heavily aided by foreign funding and his deep local influence. What began as spiritual outreach allegedly morphed into a conversion-for-profit racket, backed by a complex network of associates, including:
- Mahboob (his son)
- Neetu Rohera (Nasreen)
- Ghanshyam Rohera
- Samale Rohera (Sabiha)
- Gunja Gupta (Alina)
- Abu Ansari, Meraj, Rashid, Shihabuddin, Sabroj, and Ramzan
Legal Framework and Next Steps
The FIR lodged by the ATS includes charges under:
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021
The ED’s investigation under PMLA will now focus on identifying other potential beneficiaries, foreign donors, shell companies, and the full scope of the laundering mechanisms used to channel funds into illegal religious activities.
Officials warn that international cooperation may be needed to trace donors abroad and prevent future misuse of foreign aid under the guise of charity or development.