In a major crackdown on religious conversion rackets in Uttar Pradesh, the state police, along with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), have unearthed a sprawling Islamic conversion syndicate allegedly run by Jamaluddin alias Chhangur Baba. The racket, reportedly involving over Rs 100 crore in foreign funding, operated with chilling precision, targeting young Hindu women for conversion through deceit and manipulation.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has assured the public of stringent action, stating that the accused will face the full force of the law. “There is no place in Uttar Pradesh for those who disrupt peace, harmony, and the safety of women. Chhangur Baba will be given exemplary punishment that will serve as a deterrent for others,” CM Yogi declared.
Demolition of Chhangur Baba’s Illegal Bungalow
In a swift follow-up action, authorities on July 8, demolished Chhangur Baba’s illegally constructed palatial bungalow in Madhupur village, Balrampur. The demolition was carried out in the presence of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and Circle Officer amid heavy police deployment. The property, spread across three bighas, was registered in the name of Neetu Rohra, an associate of Chhangur Baba. Despite receiving three prior eviction notices, occupants resisted the demolition, with Chhangur’s daughter-in-law Sabira staging protests citing the presence of children inside.
Inspector Awadhesh Raj Singh confirmed that security arrangements were tightened to prevent any law and order disruption during the operation.
The Foreign Funding Nexus and UAE Connection
Investigations have revealed that the conversion network has deep-rooted international links, especially in the United Arab Emirates. Neetu Rohra, who shared the bungalow with Chhangur Baba, reportedly travelled to the UAE 19 times between 2014 and 2019. The ATS discovered that Neetu, her husband Naveen Rohra, and their daughter had their religious conversions certified by Dubai’s Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in 2015, although passport records suggest discrepancies in their travel dates.
The ATS is probing the exact purpose of these visits and their connection to the foreign funding that fueled the conversion racket.
Fake Trusts and Businesses to Launder Foreign Funds
Chhangur Baba’s operation was highly sophisticated. He established multiple fake trusts and businesses, including Aasvi Enterprises, Aasvi Charitable Trust, Aasipia Hasni Hussaini Collection, and Baba Tajuddin Aasvi Boutique. These entities served as conduits for laundering foreign funds received for the purpose of religious conversions. Eight bank accounts associated with these fronts were identified.
Authorities found that Jamaluddin transferred Rs 6 lakh to a foreign bank account and sent Rs 10 lakh via NEFT, alongside multiple suspicious transactions involving his associates. A key accomplice, Idul Islam from Pune, assisted him in spreading the network. Chhangur Baba had also acquired land and properties in other states to establish operational bases.
The STF reported that Chhangur Baba owned properties worth crores in Pune and purchased a Rs 16 crore property in Lonavala under the name of his associate Mohammad Ahmed Khan.
A Chilling Incentive-Based Conversion Scheme
The conversion racket followed a chillingly systematic approach, offering monetary incentives to Muslim men who could lure and convert Hindu women. The caste of the woman determined the financial rewards: Rs 15-16 lakh for Brahmin, Sikh or Kshatriya women; Rs 10-12 lakh for OBCs; and Rs 8-10 lakh for other castes. These sums were part of a larger plan aimed at long-term demographic changes.
This model mirrors patterns uncovered in the Beawar Muslim gang case, where Hindu schoolgirls were targeted, exploited, and coerced into conversion under similarly structured incentives.
Political Rise and Rapid Wealth Accumulation
Chhangur Baba, originally a ring-seller from Rehra Maafi village, saw his fortunes change after winning the 2015 Panchayat elections and becoming the village headman. He later introduced his son Mehboob into politics, who unsuccessfully contested the 2022 Panchayat elections despite significant financial backing.
Parallel to his political endeavours, Chhangur Baba expanded his conversion network, amassing wealth through illegal foreign funding. He purchased multiple properties, built showrooms, luxury homes, and acquired high-end vehicles, all financed through funds intended to promote religious conversions.
Uttar Pradesh Women’s Commission Demands Death Penalty
The shocking revelations have sparked outrage across the state. Babita Chauhan, Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission, has demanded the death penalty for Chhangur Baba. “Our daughters are not laboratories for dangerous experiments of conversion. Those who deceive them and strip away their faith are enemies of society. Hanging is the only appropriate punishment,” she asserted.
Chauhan further praised CM Yogi Adityanath for enacting strict laws against religious conversions and urged society to remain vigilant and vocal against such threats.
Nationwide Concerns Over Rising Conversion Rackets
This case has reignited concerns about the rising incidents of coercive religious conversions, commonly referred to as “Love Jihad,” across India. The exposed operations of Chhangur Baba’s network, funded and facilitated by foreign sources, have alarmed both law enforcement and civil society.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath reiterated the state’s zero-tolerance policy towards any activity that threatens communal harmony, women’s safety, and the social fabric of Uttar Pradesh. The ATS continues to investigate the international money trail, and further arrests are expected as the probe deepens.
The case is being widely seen as a test case for India’s efforts to clamp down on illegal conversion networks and uphold the rule of law.
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