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NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Conversion Case: Probe Agency ED Gets Chhangur Baba's Custody Till August 1
Lucknow: A special PMLA court in Lucknow on Monday granted a five-day custody of Chhangur Baba to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as part of a money-laundering investigation against him and his associates linked to an alleged illegal religious conversion racket in Uttar Pradesh, officials said. Chhangur Baba alias Jalaluddin alias Karimulla Shah has been in jail in the predicate offence case being investigated by the Uttar Pradesh Police's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). The ED had applied to the court for his custody following which it was allowed a five-day remand of the accused till August 1, the officials said. He will be questioned in jail and his statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they added. Earlier this month, the federal agency conducted searches at Chhangur Baba's native place in Balrampur district and two places in Mumbai. The ED later said in a statement that the accused had received funds worth Rs 60 crore in 22 bank accounts, including "large amounts" from abroad. The money-laundering case against Chhangur Baba stems from the ATS FIR filed at a police station in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021. Chhangur Baba, his son Mehboob and alleged associates Naveen Rohra alias Jamaluddin and Neetu Rohra alias Nasreen were arrested by the ATS. They are currently lodged in a jail. The ATS complaint alleged a "large-scale" conspiracy involving unlawful religious conversions, utilisation of foreign funds and activities posing a potential threat to national security. "Chhangur Baba and his associates are alleged to have 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. "He is accused of systematically inducing, coercing and manipulating individuals of other faiths, particularly Scheduled Castes and economically disadvantaged persons belonging to Hindu religion, into religious conversion," the ED had said. The agency has said it has analysed 22 bank accounts related to Chhangur Baba and his associates and it was found that funds worth more than Rs 60 crore were received by them. "It was also found that a large amount of funds has been received from foreign countries by Chhangur Baba and his associates," it has said. The searches also led to the seizure of a number of documents that show that the "proceeds of crime" (illicit funds) were majorly transferred to different people for purchasing a number of immovable properties worth crores of rupees and carrying out construction activities in these properties. All the immovable assets acquired by Chhangur Baba are in the names of Naveen Rohra and Neetu Rohra to conceal his actual involvement in money laundering, the ED has said. Following the arrest of Chhangur Baba, alleged illegal constructions linked to him in Balrampur were razed by the district administration. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had described the actions of the accused as not only anti-social but also "anti-national".
India Today
6 days ago
- Business
- India Today
ED to seize properties worth Rs 75 crore linked to Chhangur Baba
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is preparing to seize properties worth Rs 75 crore linked to Chhangur Baba who is accused of masterminding a large-scale religious conversion racket and receiving money from foreign to official documents, the ED has found that Chhangur Baba bought several land and buildings in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra between 2020 and include over 11 bighas of agricultural land in Uttar Pradesh, including 3 bighas in Utraula bought in 2021 for Rs 65 lakh, 5 bighas in Balrampur purchased in 2020 for Rs 1.25 crore and 3 bighas in Madhpura village bought in 2021 for Rs 42 Along with this, the ED is examining five residential properties located in various cities of Uttar Pradesh, covering more than 20,000 square feet and acquired between 2020 and commercial plots measuring over 4,600 square feet are also part of the investigation. Additionally, a property in Lonavala in Maharashtra, was purchased in 2023 for Rs 16 crore. Some of these properties are registered in the names of his close associates, Naveen Rohra and Neetu Rohra. The ED believes the total current value of these properties may be between Rs 75-80 investigation revealed that Chhangur Baba received Rs 65 crore from domestic and foreign sources. The ED suspects that the figure may increase once all remaining bank records are funds were transferred into India through multiple bank channels. According to officials, a large part of this money was allegedly used to support religious conversion money came through various bank accounts, including two SBI accounts that received Rs 15 crore from the UAE. Between 2019 and 2021, he received Rs 7.75 crore. The ED has also identified Vostro accounts connected to his said none of the foreign money was sent for business purposes. The ED is now working to trace the full network and may freeze more accounts in the coming weeks as the investigation is currently underway.- EndsTune InMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Maharashtra
Hindustan Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Religious conversion racket: ED unearths offshore trail of Panama shell firms for money laundering
Probing the alleged money-laundering activities of Jalaluddin Shah alias Chhangur Baba, 78, accused of being the kingpin of the Balrampur religious conversion racket, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has discovered an offshore trail involving Panama-based shell companies, senior officials said. Jalaluddin Shah alias Chhangur Baba. (File Photo) 'While scanning the list of properties and investments, the ED has unearthed a complex offshore trail involving Panama-based shell companies suspected to have been used for laundering illicit wealth and concealing real ownership. Documents seized during a search operation revealed that Chhangur Baba's close associate, Naveen Rohra alias Jamaluddin, had registered companies in Panama, including Krishna Group SA and Logos Marine SA. These entities are suspected to have been used for money laundering and tax evasion,' a senior ED official confirmed. He said the ED is further investigating the source of funds used in these transactions and the nature of the companies' operations. The agency is also looking into potential international connections and the involvement of other individuals in the alleged money-laundering scheme, he added. The investigation revealed a general power of attorney issued in favour of Naveen Rohra, granting him operational authority over the companies, he said, adding that the probe also uncovered significant financial transactions between the companies and various entities, including those based in South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The official said the ED has found evidence of property purchases made by Naveen Rohra and his associates, including his wife Neetu Rohra, using funds allegedly generated through illicit means. The agency has also traced a connection to Habib Bank in Zurich, Switzerland, raising suspicions about possible Swiss bank involvement in the funding and financial transactions related to the case, he said. Documents seized during the investigation also revealed a UAE entry permit linked to Chhangur Baba, indicating potential international connections, he added. The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had registered an FIR against Chhangur Baba and his associates on November 16, 2024, accusing them of forced religious conversions and illegally amassing wealth. So far, eight people have been arrested, including Rajesh Kumar Upadhyaya, a clerk in the Balrampur Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) court, on July 19 for alleged connivance with the kingpin in the religious conversion racket.
India Today
22-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Chhangur Baba's Panama link: ED traces offshore shell company as probe deepens
As the probe into the alleged religious conversion syndicate led by Chhangur Baba intensifies, documents accessed by India Today have revealed a direct link to Panama, exposing a sophisticated international money laundering operation. These documents, recovered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) during recent raids, point to the use of an offshore shell company to channel illicit to ED sources, Chhangur Baba's close aide, Naveen Rohra, established a shell company named Logos Marine SA in Panama in 2003, with an initial investment of USD 10,000. The firm was registered through a Panama-based entity, the International Shipping Bureau, with an authorised share capital of the same official records list foreign nationals as key stakeholders, investigators suspect this was a deliberate strategy to conceal the real ownership. The ED believes that Naveen Rohra retained full control and ownership of Logos Marine SA, using foreign nominees as a front. Preliminary findings suggest that crores of rupees were laundered through this offshore entity, which was ostensibly structured as a shipping company. This aligns with broader leads in the ED's investigation into Chhangur Baba's network, which has flagged suspicious hawala transactions, bank transfers, and foreign remittances amounting to over Rs 100 crore in suspected illicit recovery of these documents from Naveen Rohra's premises earlier this month is expected to offer key insights into the financial machinery underpinning the alleged conversion racket. The ED is also examining how the laundered money was spent, particularly in light of allegations that the funds were used for illegal land acquisitions, purchase of luxury assets, and financing mass religious conversions orchestrated by the Baba, along with his son Mehboob and associates Naveen Rohra alias Jamaluddin and Neetu alias Nasreen, has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). They are currently in judicial ATS complaint describes a "large-scale" conspiracy involving illegal religious conversions, misuse of foreign funds, and activities deemed a potential threat to national security.- Ends
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Time of India
Funds received from frgn countries were used to buy assets: ED on Chhangur Baba
Lucknow: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Lucknow Zonal Office, completed search operations at 15 locations related to Chhangur Baba, his close associate Naveen Rohra, and others in Balrampur, Lucknow, and Mumbai. These operations were conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a money laundering case related to Chhangur Baba and others on Friday. The ED initiated the investigation based on an FIR registered by ATS, Lucknow, under various sections. The FIR alleged a large-scale conspiracy involving unlawful religious conversions, utilisation of foreign funding, and activities posing a potential threat to national security. 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 organised 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 sources said that during the course of the investigation, 22 bank accounts related to Chhangur Baba and his associates were analysed. From the analysis of these bank accounts, funds amounting to more than Rs. 60 Crore received by Chhangur Baba and his associates were identified. It was also revealed that a large amount of funds was received from foreign countries by Chhangur Baba and his associates. During the searches, a number of documents were seized, which revealed that the funds, which are nothing but proceeds of crime, were majorly transferred to different people for purchasing a number of immovable properties worth crores of rupees and carrying out construction activities on these properties. 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. The searches also resulted in the recovery of physical records relevant to the investigation. Further investigation is in progress.
