logo
Chhangur Baba conversion case: ED finds Croatian currency photo on associate's phone

Chhangur Baba conversion case: ED finds Croatian currency photo on associate's phone

India Today17-07-2025
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted extensive raids at 14 locations across Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai, uncovering potential international links in the Chhangur Baba religious conversion case. Key discovery was made at the Mumbai residence of Shehzad Sheikh, a close associate of the accused Naveen, where a photo of the Croatian currency, 'Kuna', was found on a mobile phone.This finding suggests that the religious conversion racket may have had international dimensions, with foreign currency potentially playing a role in the operations. The ED is now analysing data from Sheikh's mobile device to gather more information on this aspect.
advertisementDuring the investigation, it was also found that Shehzad had sold some land to Chhangur Baba.
Additionally, the ED will seize 10 properties owned by Chhangur Baba and his close associates, which have been identified during the investigation.The agency is investigating financial trails linked to the racket, including a substantial Rs 2 crore transfer from an account associated with Naveen to Shehzad Sheikh. Properties worth over 40 crore, including those owned by Chhangur Baba and his associates, have also been identified for attachment.Chhangur Baba was arrested earlier this month, accused of orchestrating large-scale religious conversions. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has been involved in the investigation, revealing a complex network targeting vulnerable individuals, notably Hindu women and minors.Chhangur Baba, while denying the allegations, said, "I am innocent. I don't know anything." His arrest has brought to light a financial trail involving over Rs 500 crore allegedly funnelled from foreign sources into accounts linked to the racket.The properties linked to Chhangur Baba and his close associates have substantially increased in value, now estimated at over 40 crore. The ED has seized numerous property documents, with plans to officially attach these properties within the next two to three weeks.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Jharkhand liquor scam: After Pune director Amit Salunkhe's arrest, Sumeet Facilities denies allegations
Jharkhand liquor scam: After Pune director Amit Salunkhe's arrest, Sumeet Facilities denies allegations

Indian Express

time24 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Jharkhand liquor scam: After Pune director Amit Salunkhe's arrest, Sumeet Facilities denies allegations

TWO DAYS after the arrest of director Amit Salunkhe in the Jharkhand liquor scam, his firm Sumeet Facilities on Saturday denied the allegations levelled against him. 'We categorically reject and dismiss, in the strongest possible terms, the unfounded accusations made in public domain, concerning the alleged involvement of our Director, Amit Salunkhe, in a purported alcohol-related case. These baseless insinuations are nothing more than an attempt to tarnish the reputation of Sumeet Facilities Limited and its leadership,' Sumeet Facilities Limited said in a press release. The Jharkhand police have made 11 arrests in the case involving embezzlement of Rs 450 crore. Salunkhe was called for questioning by the officials of ACB. After questioning, he was taken into custody. 'Neither our company, our director, nor his family members have any links—direct or indirect—with any political party or political figure. Any insinuation to the contrary is wholly inaccurate and deserves to be ignored,' a spokesperson for the firm said. Regarding the Ambulance Project '108', a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was rightly dismissed by the Hon'ble Bombay High Court on April 8, 2025. The court confirmed that the entire tender process conducted by the government of Maharashtra was fair, transparent, and legally sound. All allegations of cost escalation were found to be meritless and unsubstantiated,' the Sumeet Facilities said. 'As for the allegations against M Amit Salunkhe relating to Jharkhand's Excise Policy for the year 2022, we view these claims as entirely false. Salunkhe has been wrongfully implicated by investigative agencies, and the case remains sub judice before the courts in Ranchi. We have absolute confidence in the Indian judiciary and are certain that all truth will soon be vindicated,' the spokesperson said.

If 14,000 men have benefitted from Ladki Bahin Yojana, we will recover money from them: Ajit Pawar
If 14,000 men have benefitted from Ladki Bahin Yojana, we will recover money from them: Ajit Pawar

Indian Express

time24 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

If 14,000 men have benefitted from Ladki Bahin Yojana, we will recover money from them: Ajit Pawar

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday said the government will recover money from those men who have taken advantage of the state's flagship Ladki Bahin Yojana which was said to be largely instrumental in bringing the BJP-led Mahayuti back to power in Maharashtra. Over 14,000 men have been reportedly benefitted from the scheme. 'The Ladki Bahin Yojana was implemented as financial assistance for poor women. It was brought with honest intention. It was not meant for men. And therefore, we are going to recover the money from them. If they do not co-operate, we will take action against them,' Pawar told reporters when asked about the media reports that 14,298 men have benefitted from the scheme. The scheme was started in August 2024 before the Assembly elections. The beneficiaries got Rs 1,500 per month in their bank accounts. As many as 14,298 men have apparently received benefits of over Rs 21 crore. Sports Minister Dattatraya Bharne, who in the past had admitted how the scheme had put additional financial burden on the state government, said, 'If men have got benefits from the scheme, the government will take appropriate action in the matter.' Another NCP Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said, 'If this has happened, then government will investigate.' Shashikant Shinde, NCP (S-P) state president, said, 'We have been consistently saying that those who were not eligible were getting benefits of the Ladki Bahin Yojana. In the House too, we had been asking the government to recover the amount which was wrongly distributed. The scheme was wrongly implemented.' Baramati MP Supriya Sule said it has come to light that some men have taken advantage of the Ladki Bahin Yojana. 'The government hurriedly got lakhs of forms filled up by women before the Assembly elections,' she said, while demanding ED and CBI investigation against contractors who were tasked with getting forms filled up from women about the Ladki Bahin Yojana.

Woman arrested for railway job scam
Woman arrested for railway job scam

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

Woman arrested for railway job scam

Thiruvananthapuram : Pettah police arrested a Kollam, Mughathala-based woman, Reshma, 24, for defrauding several people by offering jobs in the Indian Railways. According to the police, she befriended the victims after meeting them by chance at Thampanoor railway station. She used to wear an identity card of the Indian Railways to convince victims that she was a senior clerk in the recruitment division. Reshma then maintained a relationship with the victims tactically. During communications over the phone, she promised the victims jobs and later took lakhs of rupees from them. One of the complainants, a Manacaud-based woman and her brother lost Rs 4.5 lakh in the scam. Reshma offered the woman a job as junior clerk and her brother a job in the post of commercial-cum-ticket clerk. She collected the amount claiming that she had to bribe some of her senior officers. The victims were asked to sign several documents and an offer letter was also sent. They realised it was a scam only when they verified it with the office concerned. "Reshma stays with her husband, mother and three children in Kollam. Her connections in Thiruvananthapuram and what prompted her to cheat the victims will be known only through a detailed probe," said police. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo Police said that she was arrested in a similar cheating case registered at Thampanoor police station in 2022. The probe team also found that the documents she gave to the victims looked similar to the ones in possession of Murukeshan Pillai, who was earlier arrested in a job scam. Pillai also cheated several people by offering jobs in the railways. The links between them were being examined, police said. Meanwhile, a court granted her bail when Pettah police produced her in connection with the case registered on the complaint of the Manacaud-based woman.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store