UP Religious Conversion Racket: 14 Locations Linked To 'Chhangur Baba' Raided By ED; Cash, Gold, and Property Documents Seized

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday (17 July) morning initiated raids across 14 locations connected to Jalaluddin Shah, also known as Chhangur Baba, and his accomplices, Hindustan Times reported.

Twelve of the locations were in Utaraula, Uttar Pradesh, and two in Mumbai.

These raids were launched amid allegations that Chhangur Baba orchestrated a vast religious conversion racket in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh.

During the raids, the ED recovered significant assets, including land documents, luxury vehicles, gold, and unaccounted cash.

In Mumbai, the ED also raided the premises of Shahzad Sheikh, who alleged received over Rs 1 crore from Chhangur Baba’s accounts.

Chhangur Baba is alleged to have amassed enormous wealth by exploiting religious faith, with disclosure of properties valued in crores of rupees.

The ED is investigating Chhangur Baba's close associates, followers, and ashram managers, scrutinising their bank accounts, properties, and financial transactions.

There are growing suspicions of foreign funding, with evidence linking money coming from Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Nepal.

Chhangur Baba and his associate Neetu, alias Nasreen, were arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad on 5 July.

They, along with Baba’s son, are accused of being part of an organized network involved in the religious conversion of Hindus and other non-Muslims to Islam.

However, Chhangur Baba has denied all allegations, claiming his innocence.

"I am innocent. I don’t know anything," he told news agency ANI.

According to Uttar Pradesh’s Additional Director General (ADG) of Law and Order, Amitabh Yash, Chhangur Baba's gang had been operating for 15 years, using honey-trapping and administrative pressure to facilitate conversions.

The official further revealed that minors were among the targets of the racket, with some foreign funding traced.

"Separate rate cards existed for different types of conversions, and the money was routed through nearly 40 bank accounts. The ATS is tracking the sources of these funds," he was quoted as saying.

The ED’s raids on Chhangur Baba’s properties follow a week after officials demolished illegal structures linked to him.

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