From selling rings and amulets on a rickety bicycle to hoarding Rs 106 crore across 40 bank accounts sourced from foreign donors and owning properties worth crores, the journey from Jalaluddin to Chhangur Baba, to Peer Baba, has been nothing short of dramatic if reports are to be believed. Now arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (UP-ATS) as the alleged mastermind of a massive religious conversion racket in Balrampur, the rise hides a sinister trail, where Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba allegedly targeted women from non-Muslim communities and even maintained a “rate list” for their conversions, officials said.

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Chhangur Baba’s alleged pattern of exploiting women of other religions through community-specific cash targets, is a “conspiracy” which UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath called “not just anti-social and anti-national, but a deliberate attempt to tear apart India’s social fabric”.

Sources told India Today TV that Chhangur Baba’s conversion targeted over 3,000 to 4,000 Hindus, with suspicions that more than 1,500 women were among the victims.

Most victims, however, are unwilling to testify against him.

Coinciding with the surfacing of allegations of large-scale religious conversion and unlawful funding, the Balrampur administration of UP, amid heavy police deployment, demolished Chhangur Baba’s mansion on July 8, calling it an illegal construction.

He’s now facing a multi-agency probe, including that by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

So, who is Chhangur Baba, and how did a man once peddling charms on a bicycle become an alleged mastermind of a multi-crore conversion syndicate?

CASH REWARD, WARRANT, AND ARREST: ATS NABS CHHANGUR BABA

Following a non-bailable warrant against Chhangur Baba, and announcement of a cash reward of Rs 50,000, the alleged conversion mastermind was arrested on July 5 by the UP-ATS, along with his aide, Neetu alias Nasreen.

Chhangur Baba’s mansion razed on July 8, built illegally near a dargah in Balrampur’s Madhpur village, was part of a sprawling empire allegedly from the over Rs 106 crore he received from the Middle East.

#WATCH | Utraula, Balrampur | Uttar Pradesh administration, in the presence of police, takes action on the properties belonging to Chhangur Baba, who is the alleged mastermind of a religious conversion gang. He was arrested by Uttar Pradesh ATS. pic.twitter.com/ttiK8YdP0Y— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2025

He has been arrested for mass religious conversion, financial fraud, and possible terror links.

It is a surprising story of a petty amulet seller who gained influence locally, and rose to the position of village head.

“We arrested a violent criminal in Balarampur who used to play with women’s dignity… We will not let society break and also destroy anti-national, anti-social elements, as well as protect the planet…,” CM Adityanath said while addressing a public event on July 8.

FROM GEMSTONE SELLER, HOW CHHANGUR BABA BECAME CONVERSION KINGPIN

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Chhangur Baba, whose real name is Jalaluddin, is the alleged mastermind of a large-scale religious conversion racket operating out of Uttar Pradesh’s Balrampur district. He has been accused of receiving over Rs 100 crore in foreign funding, reportedly from Gulf countries and even Pakistan.

With foreign funds pouring into 40 bank accounts, he expanded his operations and wealth rapidly, purchasing high-value properties, including a Rs 16.49 crore plot in Lonavala. He was arrested along with three close associates, and the UP ATS, now leading the investigation, has taken him into custody for interrogation.

The UP Police reportedly recovered illegal literature from his possession, suggesting he was working with the objective of “establishing an Islamic state”.

Balrampur’s local journalist, Alok, who has consistently raised his voice against Chhangur Baba, told Aaj Tak that the latter’s story “started back in 2015. At that time, he used to run a shop on a bicycle at a local market near the majar. He used to sell gemstones”.

“After working locally for a few years, Chhangur Baba moved to Mumbai. There, one of his followers took him to Saudi Arabia, where he stayed for a short period. After returning, he expanded his network in Mumbai and became known in Balrampur. He later returned and spent several days setting up an ashram, donning a chola (robe), where many people began to gather around him,” Alok told Aaj Tak, India Today Digital’s sister news portal.

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After shifting back to Balrampur, he expanded his operations to neighbouring districts. His relatives and followers organised conversion programmes at various locations. Some of his family members also face criminal cases in the neighbouring district of Azamgarh, sources told India Today TV.

He especially targeted poor, helpless, and widowed women, luring them into conversion, the sources said.

His associate, Naveen Rohra, returned from Dubai and began buying land in Balrampur, they added.

Crores of rupees were transferred from foreign sources into Naveen’s accounts, apart from the accounts of Chhangur Baba, Neetu and another associate, Mehboob.

Sources told India Today TV that there are reports suggesting that Naveen also has a Swiss bank account.

CASTE-BASED RATE CARD: WOMEN LURED, PRICED, FORCIBLY CONVERTED BY CHHANGUR BABA: POLICE

Police said they recovered a diary from Jalaluddin’s hideout containing the names of over 100 individuals who were potential targets for religious conversion. The investigation began after a Balrampur resident, Arvind Kumar, filed a complaint about suspicious activities taking place in Madhpur village, reported The Times of India.

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“In one of the cases, a woman from Lucknow was allegedly lured into a relationship by a Muslim man who posed as a Hindu. She was later coerced into converting by Neetu and others involved in the network. Jalaluddin ran a well-organised gang with a fixed incentive structure for each conversion — Rs 15–16 lakh for Brahmin or Kshatriya women, Rs 10–12 lakh for OBCs, and Rs 8–10 lakh for women from other castes.

“Investigations revealed that for the past 3-4 years, Jalaluddin and his family had been living near Balrampur’s Chand Auliya Dargah, where he portrayed himself as a Sufi saint named Hazrat Baba Jalaluddin ‘Peer Baba’. He also published a book titled ‘Shijra-e-Tayyaba’ to propagate Islam,” a UP-ATS officer told The Times of India.

Chhangur Baba’s network thrived because he had “connections with a local judicial magistrate and other authorities”, Alok, the local journalist, told Aaj Tak.

“Anyone who opposed him would face consequences, thanks to his influence. He maintained close ties with the police and senior officials. His followers reportedly included even the local SP and DM. The dargah he was associated with attracted many visitors, including foreigners and people from other cities,” he added.

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‘WOLF IN DISGUISE’, SAYS UP WOMEN’S PANEL CHIEF

Reacting to allegations of selectively targeting women for religious conversion, UP Women’s Commission Chairperson Babita Chauhan said, “Such incidents are unfortunate. One cannot tell who is a wolf in the guise of a human. We, at the Women’s Commission, were deeply concerned, especially as children were also going missing. It is a major success that such a big criminal has been caught.”

Chauhan even demanded the death penalty for Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba.

“I believe the bulldozer has become a symbol of justice. In cases like this, where forced religious conversions are carried out, especially involving the exploitation of women, it sends a strong message. I also believe that the respected Maharaj Ji and PM Modi Ji (Adityanath) genuinely prioritise the safety and dignity of women,” Aparna Yadav, UP Women’s Commission’s vice chairperson, told Aajtak.

Following the arrest of Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba and Neetu alias Neelam, a local court on Tuesday granted a seven-day police custody remand.

– Ends

Published By: Sushim Mukul Published On: Jul 10, 2025