The Enforcement Directorate has seized documents related to multiple properties associated with self-styled spiritual leader Chhangur Baba alias Jalaluddin in connection with money laundering and illegal religious conversion case.
The crackdown is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities and money laundering linked to Baba and his close associates.
ED raided 14 places related to Chhangur Baba on Thursday.
The properties seized include, Chhangur Baba’s personal residence, his son’s house, properties owned by his close confidants, Naveen and Neetu.
According to ED sources, these properties are suspected to be proceeds of crime and are likely to be officially attached soon under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Officials estimate that the total value of the seized assets is around ₹40 crore. The ED has reportedly recovered a substantial number of documents during Thursday’s searches, shedding light on a broader network of undisclosed assets.
According to sources, a crucial lead was uncovered from the mobile phone of Shehzad Sheikh, a close associate of Naveen- Baba’s trusted aide during ED raids. Investigators found a photo of Croatia’s currency, Kuna, on Shehzad’s phone, indicating possible international connections in the conversion racket.
The discovery has raised suspicions that foreign currency may have been used in religious conversion operations. ED is now thoroughly analysing the mobile phone data for further evidence.
Sources also said that the Uttar Pradesh government is also considering bulldozing the illegal properties, the disclosure of which have been made during ED’s search operations.
Meanwhile, Rashid Shah, the wanted accused who helped Chhangur in conversion, was arrested by the UP ATS on Thursday.
The ATS had also named Rashid in the case registered against Chhangur. So far 5 accused have been arrested by the ATS in this case. Rashid is an active member of Chhangur’s gang and on his instructions, he had gone to village Chirkihit in Thana Devgaon, Azamgarh on 25 May 2023 with his 17 other companions to convert people illegally. The police who reached the spot arrested all the accused.
Later, on the instructions of Chhangur, Rashid kept converting people illegally in the districts of Purvanchal by deceiving them. Rashid’s role was also revealed in the STF investigation against Chhangur, after which he was also named in the case registered in November 2024 at the ATS police station and was being searched.