Lucknow, 31 July

(HS): Chhangur has been under police surveillance, for quite some time now. In

November 2024, UP ATS filed a FIR against him following a preliminary

investigation into claims of mass conversions, foreign funding, and even

national security dangers such as employing a massive building as a terror

training camp, as well as suspected ties to Pakistan's Inter Services

Intelligence (ISI). The FIR also accuses cooperation with local police and

intelligence agencies.

According to police and the ATS, Chhangur and his gang targeted impoverished

and vulnerable non-Muslims for conversion to Islam using financial inducements,

coercion, emotional pressure, and, in some cases, fraudulent offers of

marriage. They claim the gang laundered crores of rupees, purchased benami

properties, expanded such operations to Maharashtra and Nepal, traveled

regularly to Gulf nations, and had more than 40 Indian bank accounts.

Foreign currency

inflows from West Asia, which appear to be utilized for conversion, money

laundering, and property purchases, are now being scrutinized by the

Enforcement Directorate, with suspected transactions worth over Rs 100

crore. The ED is also looking into other

Vostro accounts, bank accounts used for transactions with foreign banks, connected

to co-accused Naveen Rohra and kept in UAE-linked institutions. Neetu's name was associated with at least two

bank accounts that received suspected overseas payments. Investigators found two big inbound transfers

of Rs 16.22 crore and Rs 18.66 crore through NEFT in Naveen's accounts, as well

as further international remittances routed through UAE-based exchange firms.

According to investigators, Chhangur's gang used a caste-based financial reward

system, which was paid to those who successfully converted others.

The Enforcement

Directorate is presently investigating foreign currency inflows from West Asia

that appear to be used for conversion, money laundering, and property

acquisitions, with suspected transactions totaling more than Rs 100 crore. The

ED is also investigating additional Vostro accounts - bank accounts used for transactions

with foreign banks, connected to co-accused Naveen Rohra and held in UAE-linked

institutions. Neetu's name was linked to at least two bank accounts that

allegedly received international payments.

Investigators discovered two large inbound transfers of Rs 16.22 crore

and Rs 18.66 crore through NEFT in Naveen's accounts, as well as further

overseas remittances routed through UAE-based exchange businesses. According to

police, Chhangur's group employed a caste-based financial reward system, with

those who successfully converted others receiving payments.

Rs 15-16 lakh for

converting upper-caste ladies, Rs 10-12 lakh for women from Other Backward

Classes (OBC), and Rs 8-10 lakh for Scheduled Castes and other communities.

According to ATS sources, the ultimate goal was to weaken Hindu society's

social fabric by focusing on vulnerable and destitute Hindu women; conversion

of upper-caste women was highly valued. Gunja Gupta was reportedly duped by a

Muslim man, Abu Ansari, who pretended to be 'Amit' and took her to Chhangur

Baba's 'dargah', where she was converted and married under the name Alina

Ansari. Similarly, Manvi Sharma from Auraiya accused a guy named Meraj, also

known as Rudra, of emotional manipulation, sexual exploitation, and forced

conversion. The police FIR filed against Chhangur list five more similarly

converted people. Baba's outfit ultimately converted over 1,000 people.

As the story gains

national prominence, different political groups are busy accusing one

another. The Samajwadi Party claims that

Chhangur's racket has grown under the BJP, whilst the BJP emphasizes his

previous connections. If claims of a

plan to undermine Indian democracy are real, the question of how Chhangur

functioned openly for so long must be addressed.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi