Latest news with #ChangurBaba
News18
20 hours ago
- News18
Changur Baba Linked To Disappearance Of Girl In Ghaziabad Over Job Offer: Family
Last Updated: Changur Baba has been accused by a family of being involved in brainwashing their daughter and her disappearance. Changur Baba, alias Jalaluddin who was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh ATS on charges of religious conversion, has now been accused of being involved in the disappearance of a girl from Ghaziabad. A family from the Kavi Nagar area in the city alleged that Baba and his associate Badr Akhtar Siddiqui are connected to the disappearance of their daughter back in 2019. Despite numerous efforts, they have not been able to trace her, they said. The sister of the victim claimed that the two men manipulated and brainwashed her in the name of sending her to Dubai, and 'ultimately converting her away from Hinduism". She believed that an extensive interrogation of the accused individuals could expose several such cases across the state. The sister said that her sibling pursued a tour and travel course in 2019 when she came in contact with Badr Akhtar Siddiqui. 'He began by taking her on car rides and engaging her in conversations, eventually manipulating her emotionally and mentally. He also took her to Delhi various times and slowly began controlling her thoughts," she claimed. The family claims that black magic and occult practices were performed on her. The victim has been missing since October 2019. The last time she was seen was when she was reportedly taken away by Badr Akhtar Siddiqui in a Skoda car with tinted windows and three unknown men inside. The sister claimed that her missing sibling had undergone a drastic transformation, including performing religious rituals, showing 'disdain towards Hindu deities". She allegedly grew distant from her parents, the family said, adding that she started expressing interest in Islam under Badr Akhtar's influence. The family believed that she was 'systematically converted". view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Who is Chhangur Baba? ED cracks down on ₹106 crore conversion racket 'kingpin' who once sold taweez in UP
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stepped into the ongoing investigation against Jalaluddin Shah alias Chhangur Baba, who is accused of masterminding a large-scale religious conversion racket. Balrampur-based kingpin of illegal religious conversion racket Jalaluddin Shah alias Chhaangur Baba(X/@sanjoychakra) The preliminary findings by the probe agency point to a foreign funding of about ₹106 crore, mainly from the Middle East and illegal assets across states. Initial inputs by the ED indicate that Baba and his associates controlled around 40 bank accounts, allegedly used to receive hawala transactions and funds from Middle Eastern countries. On Wednesday, the ED's Lucknow zonal office registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on an FIR filed by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. According to official sources cited by the news agency, ED is preparing to seek custodial remand of Changur Baba, whose real name is Karimulla Shah, to question him on alleged financial irregularities and foreign funding. Who is Changur Baba? The 78-year-old, who is popularly known as Changur Baba started as a taweez and gemstone seller travelling between villages on a bicycle. By 2015, he had reinvented himself as 'Peer Baba' or 'Hazrat Baba Jalaluddin', claiming to be a Sufi preacher. Also Read | From Balrampur to Pune, conversion kingpin, associates suspected to have amassed ₹300-crore properties A resident of Rehra Ma village in Balrampur, he used his rising influence to target vulnerable individuals, often widowers, with promises of support in exchange for conversion. His reach grew across Balrampur and the Indo-Nepal border region, eventually drawing attention from intelligence agencies. The name 'Changur' comes from his physical feature—six fingers on one hand—a trait that reportedly lent mystique to his image. 'Conversion factory' run from dargah A report by Hindustan Times, earlier cited investigators saying that Changur Baba operated his network from the Chand Auliya Dargah in Balrampur district, organising large religious gatherings attended by Indian and foreign nationals. 'Chhaangur Baba and his associates had travelled to different Islamic countries for over 50 times in the past few years,' a senior police official privy to the investigation said. Senior police officials revealed that Jalaluddin amassed a sprawling empire over the past decade. Properties were found in Balrampur (Uttar Pradesh), Pune (Maharashtra), and luxury vehicles linked to his name. One such property in Madhpur village, Balrampur—spread over three bighas and worth ₹3 crore—was demolished for being built illegally on gram sabha land. Through religious discourses, a book titled Shijra-e-Tayyaba, and psychological tactics, he promoted Islam while systematically inducing, coercing, and manipulating individuals of other faiths – 'particularly Hindus, Scheduled Castes, and economically disadvantaged persons – into religious conversion,' news agency PTI quoted official as saying. The ATS added that 'the poor, helpless labourers, weaker sections and widowed women were lured with incentives, financial aid, promises of marriage, or forced through intimidation.' ₹ 16 lakh for Brahmin girls Investigators discovered that the racket maintained a caste-based "rate list" for conversions. "The gang had fixed amounts for converting individuals from different castes including ₹15-16 lakh for Brahmin, Sardar, or Kshatriya girls, ₹10-12 lakh for OBC girls, and ₹8-10 lakh for girls from other castes,' an ATS officer said. In one such case, a woman named Gunja Gupta from Lucknow was allegedly lured into a relationship by an associate named Abu Ansari, who posed as 'Amit.' She was taken to Balrampur and later converted to Islam, adopting the name Aleena Ansari.
Mint
6 days ago
- Mint
Who is Changur Baba? From ‘taweez seller' to ₹100-Cr worth ‘conversion kingpin' under ED scanner
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has written to the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), state government authorities and certain banks to ascertain the details of assets, accounts and finances of Jalaluddin alias Changur Baba, the alleged mastermind of an illegal religious-conversion racket, official sources said. The Uttar Pradesh Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Changur Baba, his son Mehboob and associates Naveen alias Jamaluddin and Neetu alias Nasreen are in police custody in the case. The four have been booked under sections 121A, 153A, 417, and 420 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 3, 5(1), 5(2), 5(3), and 8(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 at ATS police station in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. Nasreen's husband and Jalaluddin's son Mehboob were arrested in the same case on April 8 earlier this year while efforts are on to arrest 14 other co-accused in the matter. Changur Baba, 78, also known as Jalaluddin Shah, is accused of targeting girls from several communities and even maintained a 'rate list' for conversions, officials said. Changur is a term generally used for someone with six fingers. Jalaluddin is also said to have six fingers. Changur, who used to sell rings and amulets on his bicycle and later became the head of the village,is from Rehra Ma village in Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh. Later, he used to lure widowers by promising incentives, financial help, and even marriage for religious conversion. The federal probe agency is also expected to move a court soon, seeking custodial remand for the questioning of the Balrampur district-based baba, whose real name is Karimulla Shah. The ED's Lucknow zonal unit filed a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)on Wednesday, taking cognisance of an ATS FIR against Changur Baba and some others at Lucknow's Gomti Nagar police station. The ED has found preliminary inputs that suggest that the man amassed funds worth about ₹ 106 crore, mainly from the Middle East, in 40 bank accounts linked to him and his associates, agency sources told news agency PTI. The agency alleged that Jalaludddin had established an "extensive network" operating from the premises of the "Chand Auliya Dargah" in Balrampur, where he regularly organised "large" gatherings attended by both Indian and foreign nationals. Through his religious discourses, publication of a book, titled "Shijra-e-Tayyaba", and "psychological" influence, "promoted" Islam, while "systematically" inducing, coercing and manipulating individuals of other faiths – particularly Hindus, Scheduled Castes and economically-disadvantaged persons – into religious conversion, the news agency said. These acts were part of a broader organised effort to carry out "mass conversions" and accumulate wealth through "deceitful" means, they said. A report first carried by Hindustan Times said that Jalaludddin had amassed multiple properties in Balrampur (Uttar Pradesh), Pune (Maharashtra) and a band of luxury vehicles in the past decade. The officials said the sprawling property, located in Madhpur village under Uttaraula tehsil in Balrampur, which was demolished on Tuesday for being illegally constructed on gram sabha land, was spread over nearly three bighas and estimated to be worth ₹ 3 crore. The ED has written to the ATS, Balrampur district authorities and the anti-money laundering cells of some banks, seeking information about the movable and immovable assets, accounts and finances of Jalaluddin as well as his family and those linked to him, the sources said. The ED sources said they suspect that Jalaluddin undertook "illegal" constructions at residential, commercial and institutional premises, without obtaining the requisite land-use conversion approvals from the state government. The ATS had said in a statement that "the poor, helpless labourers, weaker sections and widowed women were lured with incentives, financial aid, promises of marriage, or forced through intimidation, in violation of established procedures for religious conversion by the accused". The poor, helpless labourers, weaker sections and widowed women were lured with incentives, financial aid, promises of marriage, or forced through intimidation.
Mint
6 days ago
- Mint
Who is Changur Baba? From ‘taweez seller' to ₹100-Cr worth ‘conversion kingpin' under ED scanner
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has written to the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), state government authorities and certain banks to ascertain the details of assets, accounts and finances of Jalaluddin alias Changur Baba, the alleged mastermind of an illegal religious-conversion racket, official sources said. The Uttar Pradesh Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested Changur Baba, his son Mehboob and associates Naveen alias Jamaluddin and Neetu alias Nasreen are in police custody in the case. The four have been booked under sections 121A, 153A, 417, and 420 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 3, 5(1), 5(2), 5(3), and 8(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 at ATS police station in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. Nasreen's husband and Jalaluddin's son Mehboob were arrested in the same case on April 8 earlier this year while efforts are on to arrest 14 other co-accused in the matter. Changur Baba, 78, also known as Jalaluddin Shah, is accused of targeting girls from several communities and even maintained a 'rate list' for conversions, officials said. Changur is a term generally used for someone with six fingers. Jalaluddin is also said to have six fingers. Changur, who used to sell rings and amulets on his bicycle and later became the head of the village,is from Rehra Ma village in Balrampur district of Uttar Pradesh. Later, he used to lure widowers by promising incentives, financial help, and even marriage for religious conversion. The federal probe agency is also expected to move a court soon, seeking custodial remand for the questioning of the Balrampur district-based baba, whose real name is Karimulla Shah. The ED's Lucknow zonal unit filed a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)on Wednesday, taking cognisance of an ATS FIR against Changur Baba and some others at Lucknow's Gomti Nagar police station. The ED has found preliminary inputs that suggest that the man amassed funds worth about ₹ 106 crore, mainly from the Middle East, in 40 bank accounts linked to him and his associates, agency sources told news agency PTI. The agency alleged that Jalaludddin had established an "extensive network" operating from the premises of the "Chand Auliya Dargah" in Balrampur, where he regularly organised "large" gatherings attended by both Indian and foreign nationals. Through his religious discourses, publication of a book, titled "Shijra-e-Tayyaba", and "psychological" influence, "promoted" Islam, while "systematically" inducing, coercing and manipulating individuals of other faiths – particularly Hindus, Scheduled Castes and economically-disadvantaged persons – into religious conversion, the news agency said. These acts were part of a broader organised effort to carry out "mass conversions" and accumulate wealth through "deceitful" means, they said. A report first carried by Hindustan Times said that Jalaludddin had amassed multiple properties in Balrampur (Uttar Pradesh), Pune (Maharashtra) and a band of luxury vehicles in the past decade. The officials said the sprawling property, located in Madhpur village under Uttaraula tehsil in Balrampur, which was demolished on Tuesday for being illegally constructed on gram sabha land, was spread over nearly three bighas and estimated to be worth ₹ 3 crore. The ED has written to the ATS, Balrampur district authorities and the anti-money laundering cells of some banks, seeking information about the movable and immovable assets, accounts and finances of Jalaluddin as well as his family and those linked to him, the sources said. The ED sources said they suspect that Jalaluddin undertook "illegal" constructions at residential, commercial and institutional premises, without obtaining the requisite land-use conversion approvals from the state government. The ATS had said in a statement that "the poor, helpless labourers, weaker sections and widowed women were lured with incentives, financial aid, promises of marriage, or forced through intimidation, in violation of established procedures for religious conversion by the accused". The poor, helpless labourers, weaker sections and widowed women were lured with incentives, financial aid, promises of marriage, or forced through intimidation. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday that an "initial probe" has shown that the activities of accused Jalaluddin are "not only against the society, but also against the nation".
News18
6 days ago
- News18
For Religious Conversion, Changur Baba Got ‘Rs 300 Cr From Islamic Nations In 100 Bank Accounts In Nepal'
Jalaluddin, also known as Changur Baba, is accused of running a cross-border racket that involved large-scale conversion of Hindu girls. Jamaluddin, also known as Changur Baba, was arrested in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, for his alleged involvement in illegal religious conversions. He is accused of operating a cross-border network that targeted large-scale conversions of Hindu girls. Investigating agencies have now uncovered a funding trail linked to Nepal, involving crores of rupees reportedly sourced from Islamic countries. According to a report by Amar Ujala, Changur Baba allegedly received approximately ₹500 crore in foreign funding over the past three years. Security agencies have so far traced ₹200 crore, while the remaining ₹300 crore is believed to have been funnelled through Nepal via a complex network of bank accounts spread across multiple border districts. As per the report, over 100 bank accounts were opened in Nepal's Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Banke and Kathmandu districts to receive funds from countries such as Pakistan, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. These accounts were used to send money from abroad to India. Agents withdrew the cash in Nepal and handed it over to Changur's network in India. Through this, they earned commissions of around 4-5 per cent. Cash Deposit Machines (CDMs) were also used in the process. Agents in Bihar districts like Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Purnia, Kishanganj and Champaran reportedly also helped move the funds from Nepal into India. Cybercriminals recently arrested in Rae Bareli have also been found to be linked to the same illegal conversion network. According to the report, their operations, suspected to have ties to Pakistan and Dubai, were involved in transactions worth nearly ₹700 crore. Crores of rupees were funnelled through this network to several cities, including Lucknow, Balrampur, Gonda, and Ayodhya. Amar Ujala, citing security agencies, reported that funds deposited in Nepal were withdrawn in Nepali currency and converted to Indian rupees by exchangers in border towns like Bahraich, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, Lakhimpur Kheri, Maharajganj and Balrampur. A significant portion of the money was also transferred using the hawala method, for which detailed records are unavailable. The report states that the highest amount of money was spent in Ayodhya to support conversion activities and related operations. In 2023, an agent arrested in Bihar had shared similar information but it was not taken seriously at that time. Bank Accounts Of Key Accused One of the accused, Naveen Rohra, operated six bank accounts with total deposits of Rs 34.22 crore, according to Amar Ujala. Another accused Neetu alias Nasreen, who became a close aide of Changur Baba, is said to have played a key role in the conversion racket. The report mentioned that she maintained eight bank accounts into which Rs 13.90 crore was deposited between February and June 2021. Investigators have also found six additional local accounts linked to Chhangur, including an SBI account that received Rs 6 lakh from foreign sources. Authorities are still trying to trace more of his accounts that may have been opened in Dubai, Sharjah and Mashreq City in UAE. Years Of Alleged Conversions Changur, who has reportedly been involved in illegal religious conversions for the past 15 years, is now under intensive questioning by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) following his arrest. The role of Mohammad Ahmed, a resident of Pune, is also being investigated in this case, according to the report. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also joined the investigation. As per the report, after collecting information on 40 bank accounts linked to Chhangur and his close associates, the ED has asked the Income Tax Department for details of the individuals operating these accounts for the past 10 years. Balrampur Bungalow Demolished A bungalow worth Rs 5 crore, constructed by Chhangur in Balrampur under Nasreen's name, was recently demolished by the administration. The 40-room property, built in 2022 on government barren land, had become a hub for the alleged activities. view comments First Published: July 11, 2025, 10:12 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
