ED Probes UP’s Chhangur Baba In Money Laundering, ‘Anti-National’ Conversion Racket

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a money laundering investigation against Chhangur Baba, a self-styled godman from Uttar Pradesh, who is accused of running a massive, foreign-funded religious conversion racket and amassing assets worth over ₹100 crore.

The central agency registered a formal case on July 9 after the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested Chhangur Baba, also known as Karimulla Shah, from a hotel in Lucknow last week. The ATS has accused him of forcibly converting over 1,500 Hindu women and thousands of others to Islam through coercion, manipulation, and inducement.

According to investigators, Chhangur Baba allegedly targeted poor, widowed, and vulnerable individuals, primarily from Scheduled Castes and other economically weaker sections. He used his base at the Chand Auliya Dargah in Balrampur to orchestrate the racket, using religious discourses and psychological manipulation to influence his targets.

The ED’s probe was initiated after the ATS uncovered a staggering ₹106 crore across 40 different bank accounts linked to Chhangur Baba. Most of the funds are believed to have been routed from Gulf nations to finance the alleged conversion activities.

His son, Naveen alias Jamaluddin, who was arrested earlier, is also alleged to hold an account in a Swiss bank.

The case has been described as “anti-national” by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Following the revelations, the state government has already used bulldozers to demolish illegally constructed properties linked to the accused in Balrampur district.

Investigators say Chhangur Baba’s network expanded across several Indian states, including Maharashtra, and had international links to places like Dubai. He allegedly aimed to establish Islamic Dawah centres and madrasas in the region to alter its demographic profile, bribing local officials to avoid scrutiny.

The ED has now sought all case details, including FIRs and records of bank accounts and properties, from the UP ATS to trace the money trail. The Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are also expected to join the probe to investigate the foreign funding routes.