The meteoric rise of 'Chhangur Baba' alias Jalaluddin Shah has shocked the authorities in Uttar Pradesh who uncovered a multi-crore religious conversion racket that targeted more than 3,000 women. The gang allegedly used "love jihad" tactics on some of the victims.
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad has arrested Chhangur Baba for running the Balrampur racket along with his associate Neetu Naveen Rohra alias Nasreen. Chhangur Baba's bungalow, which was built illegally in Madhpur, Balrampur, was razed by authorities on July 8.
In April, Jalaluddin's son Mehboob and Nasreen's husband Naveen Rohra alias Jamaluddin were arrested while the ATS is looking for 14 others.
Jalaluddin, who made a living peddling gems and amulets on bicycle, was found to have amassed ₹106 crore in 40 bank accounts. The wandering astrologer's life changed after he moved from rural Uttar Pradesh to Mumbai and Saudi Arabia. Here he made contacts and procured funds from foreign donors for organised conversion of non-Muslim women to Islam. He reportedly has support of the local judicial magistrate and others.
He then branded himself as a Sufi preacher titled 'Peer Baba' and set up an ashram near the Dargah of Chandaulia Baba in Balrampur. From this new base, Chhangur Baba expanded his network to nearby districts in Uttar Pradesh and even in Pune. He reportedly owned three dozen properties and bungalows, which are registered under the names of his associates and NGOs. The Enforcement Directorate has launched a money laundering probe into the NGOs, which were used to funnel crores of rupees.
Love jihad
In the case of Gunja Gupta from Lucknow, the woman was lured by one Abu Ansari, who introduced himself as Amit. He later made her convert and change her name to Aleena Ansari.
Caste-based conversion
The racket allegedly set a fixed incentive for conversion of women. ₹15 to 16 lakh for a Brahmin or Kshatriya woman, ₹10 to 12 lakh for OBC woman and ₹8 to 10 lakh for others.