‘I am innocent. I don’t know anything’: Chhangur Baba

Jamaluddin alias Chhangur Baba, the alleged mastermind of the Uttar Pradesh mass religious conversion racket, has broken his silence on the allegations.

“I am innocent. I don’t know anything,” Chhangur Baba said, pleading innocence while speaking to media persons here on Wednesday afternoon.

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Chhangur Baba and his aide Nasreen were brought from Balrampur after the end of their seven-day police remand. Later, they were taken to a Community Health Centre for medical examination.

The ATS has asked the court to extend Chhangur Baba’s remand.

Meanwhile, a case has also been filed against three of Chhangur’s disciples for threatening the conversion victims. The victims were allegedly warned that they would be killed if they spoke to the media or if the government changed.

On the complaint of conversion victim Harjeet Kashyap from Gandasbujurg, a case has been filed against Chhangur’s three disciples — Riyaz and Kamaluddin from Chichudi Sahangi village and Nawab from Mahua Bazaar.

Harjeet alleged that he was the first to raise a complaint about Chhangur’s black deeds. Since then, he has been targeted by the gang.

The Chhangur Baba conversion case involves Jamaluddin alias Chhangur Baba, a self-styled spiritual leader from Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh, who is accused of orchestrating a large-scale illegal religious conversion racket. The case gained significant attention after his arrest by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) along with his associate Neetu alias Nasreen. The probe has revealed an elaborate network allegedly involved in luring and coercing vulnerable individuals, particularly Hindu women and minors, into converting to Islam, often through deceit, emotional manipulation, and financial inducements.

A significant aspect of the allegations centres around a massive financial trail. Investigations by the ATS and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have revealed that over Rs 500 crore was allegedly funnelled into around 40 bank accounts linked to Chhangur Baba and his associates, with funds originating primarily from Gulf countries and possibly Pakistan.