ED takes ‘Chhangur Baba’ on 5-day remand in religious conversion racket probe

The Enforcement Directorate on Monday took Jalaluddin, the alleged mastermind of a massive religious conversion racket who operated under the nick name of ‘Chhangur Baba’, into five-day custody following a court order.

He was presented before the NIA Special Court in Lucknow under heavy security.

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While the ED had sought a 7 days remand, the court granted permission for 5 days of custodial interrogation. During this period, ED officials will question Jalaluddin regarding hawala transactions, foreign funding sources, and his extensive property holdings, all linked to suspected money laundering activities.

Speaking to the media, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna said that the state’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is conducting a deep probe into the network’s operations, going beyond surface-level involvement to focus on financial trails. He emphasized that any government officials found complicit will face strict action.

The DGP further revealed that 122 illegally constructed religious structures allegedly linked to Jalaluddin’s network have already been demolished as part of the crackdown. He also hinted at the potential cross-border implications of the conspiracy, stressing the importance of heightened security measures across the state’s borders.

Investigations suggest that Jalaluddin’s network extends beyond India, with strong links to Saudi Arabia and Dubai. Authorities believe the network used illegal conversions as a front for large-scale money laundering operations.

With ED and ATS now jointly probing the case, the investigation appears to be widening into an international angle. During the remand, officials plan to interrogate Jalaluddin about his foreign connections, sources of funding, and the broader network suspected of orchestrating illegal conversions and financial crimes.