Chhangur Baba’s Muslim Conversion Racket Busted
Chhangur Baba’s Muslim Conversion Racket : Recently big religious conversion racket busted in state of Uttarpradesh by Chhangur Baba using foreign funding.
Who is chhangur Baba ?
Real name: Jalaluddin also Karimullah Shah
He had 6 fingers and hence Chhangur, he claims divinity or mystical aura behind his 6 fingers.
Originally a Taweez ( amulet) and stone Seller in Balrampur district of Uttarpradesh.
Later he declared himself a “Pir” (Sufi Muslim saint) and built spiritual following.
Operated from a mansion near the Chand Auliya Dargah in Madhwapur , Utter pradesh; which is his main base for religious conversion activities.
Nature of crime : Chhangur Baba’s Muslim Conversion Racket
The ₹106 crore conversion racket involved mass religious conversions into islam.
Primarily targeting vulnerable groups such as,
- Widows
- Poor rural women
- OBC/SC communities, and
- Economically weak Hindus
The modus operandi of the Chhangur Baba included,
- exploiting emotional trauma,
- poverty
- making promises of better livelihood
- marriage
- Good job opportunities.
They reportedly used taweez, healing tricks, and claimed divine powers to manipulate people.
Additionally, individuals were allegedly offered cash inducements to convert.
Rate quota for Conversion as per Caste category (as per UP ATS)
Brahmins/Thakurs : ₹ 15- 16 lakh
OBCs : ₹10-12 lakh
SC/ST/Others : ₹8- 10 lakh
These kind of funds allegedly used to pay beneficiaries and bribe influencers in Target communities.
For example: Chhangur Baba pays this amount to Muslim boys to trap hindu girls in their love and than convert them, if any Muslim boy converts Hindu Brahmin girl than he got ₹ 12 – 10 lakh.
Several victims allegedly they were converted without full consent, or were not aware of the religious implications.
The network operated through local maulvis, NGOs and self styled Baba’s , who held ” Spiritual healing sessions” where vulnerable people were inducted and brain washed so that they convert to Islam religion.
Chhangur Baba’s Property and Empire
He had lavish mansion in Balrampur , utter pradesh.
Spreading 70+ room compound and equipped with electric fencing, CCTV surveillance, Mini Power station, high boundary walls and that to constructed on government land illegally.
Utter pradesh government demolition drive upon Chhangur Baba’s Property
Government started demolition activity of this illegal property saying these properties as illegal and threat to national security as such activities creat religious tension between people.
Financial Fraud and investigation by ED ( Enforcement Directorate)
₹ 106 carore unaccounted transactions:
- ED found 40+ bank accounts under Chhangur Baba and his associates
- These received ₹106 crore , via foreign remittances mainey from middle eastern countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar etc
- Funds believes to have been routed through hawala channels.
Foreign funding trail in religious conversion racket
- Total money involved :₹ 500 crore approx
- ₹200 crore: received through official bank channels.
- ₹300 crore: routed via illegal hawala networks and Nepal
From where funding is coming ,
- Pakistan
- UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- Turkey
These countries are suspected of funding such people in name of religious charity or Islamic prapogation(dawah) , but the actual motife and use of money was to convert people into islam.
Modus operandi of funding conversion racket
Money from gulf and other Muslim majority countries would first be deposited in banks in Nepal .
Then it was smuggled or routed into India through ,
- Hawala networks
- Courier agents
- Fake charities
- NGOs
Over 100 bank accounts in Nepal and 40 accounts in India have been linked to the convention racket.
Between 2023 and 2024,
- Uttar Pradesh Police and the Intelligence Bureau began monitoring suspicious foreign transactions.
- During this period, names such as Jamaluddin alias Chhangur Baba started appearing in reports from Western Uttar Pradesh.
In May to June 2025,
- Major surveillance and banking audits were initiated, and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) confirmed links to foreign remittances and hawala transfers.
On July 5 ,2025
- Chhangur Baba and his associates were arrested in Lucknow.
- Simultaneously, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a money laundering investigation.
- A case was filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).
From July 6 to 10, 2025,
- ED conducted raids at multiple locations, while
- ATS tracked Nepalese accounts in cities like Kathmandu, Banke, Rupandehi, and Nawalparasi.
- Over ₹51 crore was traced as being used directly for inducements.
Political and religious controversy over Chhangur Baba’s Muslim Conversion Racket
BJP led UP government has linked the case to Islamist redicalization and anti national activity.
Religious groups like VHP are demanding a nationwide crackdown on such conversion rackets .
Opposition parties have raised questions about due process and communal targeting .
Nepal ‘s financial institutions are under scanner, with india seeking cooperation to trace account holders.
Why this Chhangur Baba’s Muslim Conversion Racket is of garve concern ?
A. National Security is in danger
- Such foreign funding possibly used to destabilize society by religious redicalization .
- This is an attempt to convert india in to Muslim country .
B. Communal harmony can be breached
- Sensitive issue during election time, could spark social unrest.
- Religious violance can also be many times seen on Hindu procession by Muslims.
C. FCRA Regulations loopholes
- Though government have been banning many NGO and other norms , still this is loophole in the system.
- Need is to monitoring of foreign donations.
- In the ER of crypto currency such activities become very complex so need technological superiority
D. Border Vulnerability
- Nepal’s open border used for money laundering And illegal activities.
- Such activities also seen on Bangladesh and Myanmar borders.
Need of the hours is to be more aware and stay safe and not fall for such kind of Fake baba.