The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has identified that Chhangur Baba and his associates illegally received ₹60 crore as part of a multi-state religious conversion racket. The ED investigators scanned 22 bank accounts and searched 15 locations of Chhangur Baba. Jamaluddin Shah, also known as Chhangur Baba, and his associates received a large amount of funds from foreign countries, which was then used to acquire property in the names of his associates.
The ED initiated a money laundering investigation against the spiritual leader, who is currently in judicial custody in Uttar Pradesh, based on an FIR registered by ATS, Lucknow. 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.
Searches were conducted on the properties of Shahzad Sheikh, a financial associate of Chhangur Baba, in Mumbai. These searches followed indications that Chhangur Baba received funds, including donations, from Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and Nepal. The illegal transactions involved almost crores of rupees through over 40 bank accounts linked to shell organizations.
The evidence collected during the searches revealed that all the immovable assets acquired by Chhangur Baba are in the names of his associates Naveen Rohra and Neetu Rohra, to conceal his actual involvement in money laundering. During the searches, several documents were seized, which revealed that the funds were mainly transferred to different people for purchasing a number of immovable properties worth crores of rupees and carrying out construction activities in these properties.
Chhangur Baba and his associates are alleged to have established an extensive network operating from the premises of Chand Auliya Dargah, Balrampur, where he regularly organized large gatherings attended by both Indian and foreign nationals. He is accused of systematically inducing, coercing, and manipulating individuals of other faiths, particularly Scheduled Castes, and economically disadvantaged persons belonging to the Hindu religion, into religious conversion.
The ED conducted raids on 14 locations linked to Chhangur Baba, 12 in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, and two in Mumbai. The probe is targeting a suspected ₹100-crore foreign funding racket used to finance illegal land deals, luxury properties, and mass religious conversions. According to ED sources, at least ₹68 crore was routed through 18 Indian bank accounts, with ₹7 crore received via foreign remittances within three months. The ED has reportedly seized documents, land records, and passports and is now preparing to attach over ₹40 crore worth of assets, including Chhangur Baba's 40-room mansion. Further digital forensics are being carried out on mobile phones seized from aides, including images of Croatian currency, hinting at wider international operations. Investigators suspect that this money was channeled to fund conversion camps disguised as cultural events, acquire real estate, and operate a covert influence network. District administration has demolished alleged illegal constructions linked to the case.
