Latest news with #UttarPradeshAnti-TerrorismSquad
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
ED raids 14 locations linked to mastermind of illegal religious conversion syndicate
LUCKNOW: Seven days after registering a money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), on Thursday, launched searches at 14 locations connected to Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba, the alleged mastermind of a massive illegal religious conversion syndicate in Uttar Pradesh. According to official sources, the ED carried out searches at 12 premises in Utraula area of Balrampur district in central UP and at two locations in Mumbai. The searches began as early as 5 am on Thursday. The probe follows suspected foreign remittances exceeding Rs 100 crore into nearly 40 bank accounts linked to Chhangur Baba and his associates. According to sources, the operation is based on documents and leads handed over to ED by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) which uncovered links to hawala networks and foreign funding during their earlier probe into Chhangur Baba's activities. ED's investigation has so far uncovered Rs 68 crore worth of transactions in 18 out of 30 bank accounts associated with the syndicate. Of this, Rs 7 crore of foreign funding arrived in just three months. This money came via hawala and money laundering routes from several countries. The gang allegedly used the funds to purchase bungalows, Fortuner SUVs, showrooms, and to organize grand religious events such as Urs celebrations at Chhangur Baba's shrine. Evidence of a building used as a terrorist training camp has also been recovered.
India.com
2 days ago
- India.com
ED Raids 14 Sites Linked To Chhangur Baba In Conversion Racket Case
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out simultaneous raids at 14 properties linked to Jamaluddin Shah or Changur Baba and his associates. The raids, carried out at 12 places in Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh and two in Mumbai, came following allegations that Shah was the mastermind of a major religious conversion racket. During the searches, the ED reportedly recovered a substantial quantity of land documents, luxury vehicles, gold, and unaccounted cash. One of the key locations raided was associated with Shahzad Sheikh in Mumbai, where investigators found that over Rs one crore had been transferred from Chhangur Baba's accounts to Sheikh's. Chhangur Baba, once a vendor selling rings and amulets on his bicycle, is now accused of running a sophisticated conversion syndicate funded by foreign money. He was arrested earlier this month. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had earlier taken into custody his co-accused, Neetu alias Nasreen, along with her husband, Naveen. Authorities allege that Chhangur Baba amassed significant wealth while disguising his activities under the cloak of religious faith. Preliminary investigations have uncovered properties worth crores of rupees believed to be linked to him. The ED has expanded its investigation to include Chhangur Baba's inner circle -- his close followers, associates, and managers, including Neetu alias Nasreen. Officials are currently examining their bank accounts, financial transactions, and immovable assets. The ED is probing whether these overseas transactions were connected to the alleged conversion operations. Chhangur Baba hails from Rehra Mafi village in Uttar Pradesh and once served as its village head. According to officials, his entire empire, built on conversion-linked funds, is centred in the Uttaraula area of Balrampur district, which shares a border with Nepal. Investigations have revealed that he controls funds worth Rs 106 crore, allegedly received from Middle Eastern countries, distributed across 40 bank accounts, along with at least two properties worth crores. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities are scrutinising documents and digital evidence to trace the full extent of the operation.
India Today
7 days ago
- India Today
Project, kajal, deedar: Chhangur Baba's codewords for conversion revealed
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has uncovered a web of coded language used by self-styled godman Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba to orchestrate a massive illegal religious conversion racket, with young women often being the primary to ATS sources, Chhangur used innocuous-sounding codewords to hide the true nature of his activities during conversations with aides. In this secret lingo, 'project' referred to the targeted girls, 'mitti palatna' meant religious conversion, and 'kajal karna' implied mentally influencing or manipulating someone. When he said 'deedar', he was referring to an arranged meeting with say that through these coded exchanges, Chhangur Baba promised marriage and a new life post-conversion, often luring women with dreams of jobs, scholarships, or opportunities abroad. Some were even told they'd receive free education at Islamic seminaries or help to find work overseas - particularly in Gulf countries. Mentions of contacts in Nepal and the Middle East were used to build credibility and expand the network. The revelations are part of a larger investigation into a well-funded conversion syndicate. Chhangur Baba is already under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for alleged money laundering and accumulation of illegal wealth estimated at over Rs 100 crore. The ED believes he used foreign donations, much of it routed through illegal hawala channels via Nepal, to fund mass conversions, particularly targeting underprivileged Hindu allege Chhangur Baba operated from the Chand Auliya Dargah and had opened over 100 bank accounts across India and Nepal. Nearly Rs 500 crore in foreign funding was received over three years, with Rs 300 crore allegedly funneled in illegally through border districts like Kathmandu and Banke, and Rs 200 crore verified through official routes. These funds are suspected to have come from Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the ATS arrested Chhangur Baba and his close aide Neetu alias Nasreen on July 5 from a hotel in Lucknow. Both remain in custody. Investigators found 40 bank accounts holding Rs 106 crore linked to Chhangur and are examining digital devices to trace his financial and communication state government has begun cracking down on properties linked to the accused. A Rs 5 crore, 40-room mansion illegally built by Chhangur Baba in Balrampur was razed using bulldozers, while other assets in Bahraich and surrounding districts are also under Minister Yogi Adityanath has labelled Chhangur Baba's activities as ATS, ED and central agencies like the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are now collaborating to map the full extent of his operation, both in India and abroad.- EndsMust Watch
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Who is Chhangur Baba? ED cracks down on ₹106 crore conversion racket 'kingpin' who once sold taweez in UP
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stepped into the ongoing investigation against Jalaluddin Shah alias Chhangur Baba, who is accused of masterminding a large-scale religious conversion racket. Balrampur-based kingpin of illegal religious conversion racket Jalaluddin Shah alias Chhaangur Baba(X/@sanjoychakra) The preliminary findings by the probe agency point to a foreign funding of about ₹106 crore, mainly from the Middle East and illegal assets across states. Initial inputs by the ED indicate that Baba and his associates controlled around 40 bank accounts, allegedly used to receive hawala transactions and funds from Middle Eastern countries. On Wednesday, the ED's Lucknow zonal office registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on an FIR filed by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. According to official sources cited by the news agency, ED is preparing to seek custodial remand of Changur Baba, whose real name is Karimulla Shah, to question him on alleged financial irregularities and foreign funding. Who is Changur Baba? The 78-year-old, who is popularly known as Changur Baba started as a taweez and gemstone seller travelling between villages on a bicycle. By 2015, he had reinvented himself as 'Peer Baba' or 'Hazrat Baba Jalaluddin', claiming to be a Sufi preacher. Also Read | From Balrampur to Pune, conversion kingpin, associates suspected to have amassed ₹300-crore properties A resident of Rehra Ma village in Balrampur, he used his rising influence to target vulnerable individuals, often widowers, with promises of support in exchange for conversion. His reach grew across Balrampur and the Indo-Nepal border region, eventually drawing attention from intelligence agencies. The name 'Changur' comes from his physical feature—six fingers on one hand—a trait that reportedly lent mystique to his image. 'Conversion factory' run from dargah A report by Hindustan Times, earlier cited investigators saying that Changur Baba operated his network from the Chand Auliya Dargah in Balrampur district, organising large religious gatherings attended by Indian and foreign nationals. 'Chhaangur Baba and his associates had travelled to different Islamic countries for over 50 times in the past few years,' a senior police official privy to the investigation said. Senior police officials revealed that Jalaluddin amassed a sprawling empire over the past decade. Properties were found in Balrampur (Uttar Pradesh), Pune (Maharashtra), and luxury vehicles linked to his name. One such property in Madhpur village, Balrampur—spread over three bighas and worth ₹3 crore—was demolished for being built illegally on gram sabha land. Through religious discourses, a book titled Shijra-e-Tayyaba, and psychological tactics, he promoted Islam while systematically inducing, coercing, and manipulating individuals of other faiths – 'particularly Hindus, Scheduled Castes, and economically disadvantaged persons – into religious conversion,' news agency PTI quoted official as saying. The ATS added that 'the poor, helpless labourers, weaker sections and widowed women were lured with incentives, financial aid, promises of marriage, or forced through intimidation.' ₹ 16 lakh for Brahmin girls Investigators discovered that the racket maintained a caste-based "rate list" for conversions. "The gang had fixed amounts for converting individuals from different castes including ₹15-16 lakh for Brahmin, Sardar, or Kshatriya girls, ₹10-12 lakh for OBC girls, and ₹8-10 lakh for girls from other castes,' an ATS officer said. In one such case, a woman named Gunja Gupta from Lucknow was allegedly lured into a relationship by an associate named Abu Ansari, who posed as 'Amit.' She was taken to Balrampur and later converted to Islam, adopting the name Aleena Ansari.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
11-07-2025
- First Post
‘Miracles', funding from Islamic countries: How Chhangur Baba converted hundreds of Hindu women
Jamaluddin, also known as Chhangur Baba, was arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur for allegedly running a large-scale illegal religious conversion racket targeting Hindu girls. He claimed to possess healing powers through miracles and reportedly misled his 'followers' while pressuring them to convert to Islam. It has also been revealed that he received nearly Rs 500 crore in foreign funding over the last three years read more Chhangur Baba and his 'close aide' Neetu alias Nasreen are accused of converting Hindu girls in large numbers. Image: News18 Jamaluddin, also known as Chhangur Baba, was arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur for allegedly being involved in illegal religious conversions. He is accused of running a network across borders that focused on converting Hindu girls in large numbers. ALSO READ | Inside Chhangur Baba's religious conversion racket in UP Officials say he posed as a saint to hide his actions and mislead people. According to the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP-ATS), the 'baba' mainly targeted women from non-Muslim communities and even kept a 'rate list' for their conversions. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But how did he carry out these conversions? What more has the ATS revealed about Chhangur Baba? Let's take a look: How Chhangur Baba converted hundreds of Hindu women Chhangur Baba, who is from Madhpur in Balrampur district, is accused of targeting vulnerable groups, particularly poor, widowed, and helpless women, according to officials. Police sources told India Today TV that Chhangur, along with his 'close aide' Neetu alias Nasreen, allegedly converted over 1,500 Hindu women and thousands of others from non-Muslim communities to Islam. Before this, Jamaluddin sold gemstones and rings, and often visited the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai. Chhangur Baba has been accused of running a large-scale religious conversion racket. Image: News18 Reports suggest that his lifestyle changed around 2020. Locals said he quickly went from being a small-time trader to claiming to be a spiritual figure, gaining both wealth and status. Aaj Tak reported that once he gained the trust of people, he claimed to have the power to heal through miracles. His 'followers', convinced by these claims, were slowly brainwashed and pressured to convert to Islam. An officer from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) told The Times of India, 'In one of the cases, a woman from Lucknow was allegedly lured into a relationship by a Muslim man who used a Hindu identity. She was coerced by Neetu and others to convert. Jamaluddin ran a gang and had a fixed incentive structure for conversions. Rs 15-16 lakh was fixed for conversions of Brahmin, Sikh or Kshatriya women, Rs 10-12 lakh for OBCs, and Rs 8-10 lakh for other castes.' According to ATS sources quoted in the report, Chhangur Baba had already drawn up plans to set up a 'Dawa Kendra' near the Indo-Nepal border. Two years ago, a case had also been filed against some of his relatives in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, for illegal conversions. Chhangur and Nasreen have not admitted to the charges or revealed details about the network. The special court handling ATS matters has granted police custody of the two accused until the evening of July 16. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Notably, Chhangur had also built a lavish home on government land, which has since been demolished by the Uttar Pradesh government. Officials were surprised to find expensive features inside the house, including imported marble and tiles, a modern 15×15 feet kitchen, plush sofas, foreign furniture, 10 CCTV cameras, a private driveway 500 metres long, and an electrified wall around the property to stop intruders. As per the Aaj Tak report, items like Spanish oil imported from Dubai, medicines for physical strength, and foreign-branded detergents, perfumes, and food products were also discovered. #WATCH | Utraula, Balrampur | Uttar Pradesh administration's action on the properties belonging to Chhangur Baba continues for the third consecutive day. He is the alleged mastermind of a religious conversion gang and was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh ATS. — ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2025 Funding from Muslim countries for conversions The ATS said on Friday informed that that the self-styled godman received nearly Rs 500 crore in foreign funding over the past three years. Out of this, Rs 200 crore has been officially confirmed, while the remaining Rs 300 crore was moved through illegal hawala routes via Nepal, according to a report by India Today. The agency revealed that over 100 bank accounts were opened in Nepal's border areas, including Kathmandu, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi and Banke. These accounts were allegedly used to receive money intended for religious conversions in India. Funds were reportedly sent from Muslim-majority countries such as Pakistan, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Agents in Nepal helped pass on the money to Chhangur. It was then brought into Indian districts such as Balrampur, Shravasti, Bahraich and Lakhimpur, where local money changers converted the Nepali currency into Indian rupees. Authorities also found that agents from various districts in Bihar, including Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Purnia, Kishanganj, Champaran and Supaul, helped in smuggling funds across the border. Chhangur Baba and Neetu were reportedly part of a network that pushed for conversions. Image: News18 Hindi How Jamaluddin alias Chhangur Baba was arrested Chhangur Baba, who once rode around on a bicycle selling rings and amulets, later went on to become a village head. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested him and his associate Neetu from a hotel room in Lucknow. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Police said the room had been booked on April 16 for four days using their Aadhaar cards, but it later became a base for continued conversion activities. When police stepped in, both Jamaluddin and Neetu were taken into custody. Earlier, a court had issued a non-bailable warrant against Jamaluddin, and police had placed a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to his arrest. Another associate, Mohammad Ahmed Khan, is believed to have handled his properties. Khan, who has several criminal cases against him, is described as Chhangur Baba's 'right hand'. With inputs from agencies
