ED raids 14 places in UP, Mumbai in Chhangur Baba religious conversion case

The Enforcement Directorate ED on Wednesday launched a massive search operation in connection with the Chhangur Baba religious conversion case reported news agency ANIThe raids are underway at 14 different locations including 12 premises in Utraula in Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh and two in MumbaiAccording to official sources the operation began early morning at around 5 am The agency is investigating possible money laundering and foreign funding angles linked to alleged illegal religious conversionsThe move comes days after the ED launched a formal investigation against Jamaluddin alias Chhangur Baba who faces serious allegations related to religious conversions misuse of foreign funds and activities that could potentially threaten national security and disturb communal harmonyOn July 9 ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report ECIR Chhangur Baba under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act PMLA to probe the offences of money laundering and gathered information that he has funds worth Rs 106 crore mainly received from the Middle East in 40 bank accounts reported ANIAs part of its inquiry the ED on July 10 sought detailed information about Chhangur Baba from local police authorities the District Magistrate and multiple banksOfficials said the probe aims to trace the source and end use of foreign contributions allegedly received by individuals or organisations linked to Chhangur Baba reported ANIThe agency suspects that these funds may have been diverted for unlawful activities including orchestrating religious conversions and disrupting public order reported ANIThe EDs action comes amid growing scrutiny of financial flows linked to organisations under the scanner for violating provisions of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act FCRA and the PMLADuring the course of investigation ED on July 10 had sent a letter to Superintendent of Police ATS Lucknow requesting to provide a certified copy of First Inormation Report registered against Chhangur Baba real name Karimulla Shah on November 16 2024 details of entities associated with him bank account details related to him and his associates and details of movable and immovable assetsThe federal agency had also written a letter to the Balrampur District Magistrate requesting details of the assets of Chhngur Baba and his associates Emails have been sent to AML AntiMoney Laundering cells of concerned banks to obtain bank account statements of bank accounts mentioned in the FIR said the ED officials reported ANIDuring the investigation under PMLA ED said it has been revealed that Chhangur Baba was arrested along with his close associate Neetu alias Nasreen from a hotel in Lucknow on July 5 by Lucknow ATS The ATS has taken custody of the accused till July 16 It is further gathered that the district administration initiated demolition proceedings against properties identified as illegally constructed These included parts of Chhangur Babas residence in Madhupur as well as holdings connected to other associates reported ANIA resident of Madpur village in Uttar Pradeshs Balrampur district Chhangur Baba Neetu alias Nasreen and others are accused of being involved in a largescale conspiracy involving unlawful religious conversions utilisation of foreign funding and activities posing a potential threat to national security and communal harmony the ED had said in a statement earlier this monthChhangur Baba is alleged to have established an extensive network operating from the premises of Chand Auliya Dargah where he regularly organised large gatherings attended by both Indian and foreign nationals the ED said reported ANIOfficials said through his religious discourses the publication of a book titled ShijraeTayyaba and strategic psychological influence Chhangur Baba is accused of promoting Islam while systematically inducing coercing and manipulating individuals of other faiths particularly Hindus Scheduled Castes and economically disadvantaged personsinto religious conversionThese acts were part of a broader organised effort to carry out mass conversions and accumulate wealth through deceitful means FIR further revealed that Chhangur Baba amassed assets exceeding Rs 100 crore over a span of a few years allegedly acquired through this organised network said the officials reported ANIAs per the officials Chhangur Baba purchased land and undertook extensive illegal constructions including residential commercial and institutional structureswithout obtaining the requisite land use conversion approvals reported ANIFurther action is expected as the ED analyses financial transactions and other records to determine the extent of the alleged violationsWith inputs from ANI