Lucknow: Jalaluddin Shah, better known as Chhangur Baba, once a roadside astrologer peddling gemstones on a bicycle, has now been arrested as the alleged kingpin of a vast illegal religious conversion racket. The Uttar Pradesh ATS arrested him on Saturday and obtained a week-long custody along with his associate Nasreen alias Neetu Naveen Rohra.
Chhangur Baba is accused of orchestrating forced religious conversions from Hindu and non-Muslim communities to Islam through intimidation, manipulation, and monetary inducements.
🚩 A Transformation with Global Links
Chhangur’s journey took a dramatic turn after stints in Mumbai and Saudi Arabia, where he is believed to have built a powerful international network. In recent years, he recast himself as ‘Peer Baba’ Hazrat Jalaluddin, operating out of an ashram in Balrampur, near the India-Nepal border.
Police officials say he owned luxury vehicles, bungalows, and over three dozen properties worth over ₹300 crore in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Many of these assets were allegedly acquired through foreign-funded NGOs. He and his network reportedly made over 50 visits to Islamic countries, raising concerns of external support.
“Chhangur Baba floated over 40 organizations and maintained multiple bank accounts through which transactions exceeding ₹100 crore were routed,” a senior ATS official said.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now initiated a money laundering probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
🧾 Fake NGOs and Dubious Deals
One key revelation includes a ₹16 crore land deal in Pune, involving a court clerk from Utraula and his wife — both now named as accused. The land’s current market value is estimated at ₹200 crore.
The ATS alleges that foreign funds were routed via NGOs that were simply fronts for laundering money and funding conversion activities.
🏚️ ‘Conversion Empire’ Demolished
The nerve centre of the alleged operation was a three-bigha ashram-like compound in Madhpur village (Balrampur), equipped with CCTV and accommodations for over 50 people. Built on gram sabha land, the structure was demolished by the authorities.
Nasreen, whose name was on the property papers, and her husband were allegedly indoctrinated by Baba during his days in Mumbai and later adopted Islamic names and identities.
💸 A Lucrative Racket
Police have also revealed a disturbing price structure used by the syndicate for forced conversions:
- ₹15–16 lakh for Brahmin, Sardar or Kshatriya girls
- ₹10–12 lakh for OBC women
- ₹8–10 lakh for other castes
Victims were reportedly lured with money or threatened with false cases to force conversions. The gang allegedly used tactics akin to “love jihad”, including cases like Gunja Gupta, who was deceived by a man posing as “Amit”, later converted and renamed Aleena Ansari.
👥 Network Still Unfolding
In April, Nasreen’s husband Jamaluddin and Chhangur’s son Mehboob were arrested. The ATS is now tracking 14 more absconding accused. The investigation began after intelligence agencies flagged suspicious financial activities in the region.
Authorities believe more names, properties, and foreign links will emerge as the probe progresses.