The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its crackdown on an alleged illegal religious conversion racket by attaching immovable properties worth over Rs 13 crore belonging to Nitu Navin Rohra, the wife of a close aide of Uttar Pradesh-based Chhangur Baba. The attached properties are located in Utraula, Balrampur district.

This action by the ED is a significant step in the ongoing investigation into Chhangur Baba, also known as Maulana Jalaluddin, and his network. He is accused of running a multi-crore illegal religious conversion operation. Both Chhangur Baba and his close aide, Navin Rohra (Nitu Navin Rohra's husband), are currently in judicial custody after being arrested by the ED.

The ED's investigation is based on an FIR filed by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) at a police station in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar. The FIR alleges a large-scale conspiracy involving unlawful religious conversions, the utilization of foreign funding, and activities posing a potential threat to national security. The charges include violations of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021.

According to the ED, Chhangur Baba and Navin Rohra hatched a "well-planned" conspiracy and used the bank account of Navin Rohra's Dubai-based company, United Marine FZE, to receive funds from unknown, suspicious sources. The agency alleges that approximately Rs 21.08 crore was routed to India through Navin Rohra's NRE/NRO accounts. This money was then allegedly used to acquire several immovable properties in Nitu Rohra's name in Utraula, Balrampur.

The ED has revealed that Chhangur Baba and his associates allegedly established an "extensive" network operating from the Chand Auliya Dargah in Balrampur. From this location, Chhangur Baba purportedly organized large gatherings attended by both Indian and foreign nationals. He is accused of systematically inducing, coercing, and manipulating individuals of other faiths, particularly those from Scheduled Castes and economically disadvantaged backgrounds within the Hindu religion, into converting.

The ED's investigation has uncovered that Chhangur Baba received approximately Rs 60 crore in 22 bank accounts, including substantial funds from foreign countries. The agency has also analyzed these bank accounts and found that a significant amount of funds has been received from foreign countries by Chhangur Baba and his associates. The searches conducted by the ED led to the seizure of numerous documents that indicate the "proceeds of crime" were primarily transferred to different individuals for purchasing immovable properties worth crores of rupees and carrying out construction activities on these properties.

Previously, the ED had identified properties worth Rs 75 crore linked to Chhangur Baba, including land and buildings in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra purchased between 2020 and 2023. The agency is also scrutinizing five residential properties in Uttar Pradesh, covering over 20,000 square feet, acquired between 2020 and 2021. The ED suspects that Chhangur Baba has amassed assets exceeding Rs 100 crore over a few years through this organized network. The ED's ongoing investigation aims to trace the origins and utilization of these foreign funds and to identify all assets acquired through illicit means.