Chhangur Baba, aged 78 and a former village head turned 'Pir', was arrested on 5 July in connection with an FIR alleging forced conversions and terror‑camp operations. Officers uncovered a mansion with over 70 rooms, used for 'conversion counselling', which has since been partly demolished. The ATS also raided properties in Maharashtra, believed to be part of a benami network valued at more than ₹100 crore.
The ED executed simultaneous raids on 14 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai on 16 July, tracing foreign fund transfers totaling around ₹106 crore, potentially channelled into the syndicate’s operations. Investigators allege funds originated from Middle East and possibly Pakistan, with money funnelled through hawala networks into bank accounts and benami properties.
During interrogation, Chhangur Baba denied all allegations, stating: “I am innocent. I don’t know anything,” while being taken for medical examination in Lucknow. His aide, known as Neetu alias Nasreen, and key financial operator Mohammad Ahmad Khan, are also under scrutiny.
The ATS has summoned evidence that the Balrampur mansion hosted terror‑training sessions under the guise of religious discourses. A FIR accuses Chhangur Baba of running a terror training camp and implicates four officials – including an ADM, two CEOs and a police inspector – allegedly complicit in shielding the operations.
Reports indicate that Chhangur cultivated vulnerable groups—especially underprivileged Hindu women, widows, mentally distressed individuals—offering promises of financial support, marriage or other incentives to secure their conversion. One witness, Harjeet Kashyap of Rasulabad village, testified that he was coerced and later physically threatened for exposing these practices.
Documents recovered from Chhangur’s residence include a conversion register citing up to 1,500 women, alongside a self‑published indoctrination text, Shijr‑e‑Tayyaba. ATS investigation found Nepal‑issued passports and logs of foreign travel, indicating an international extension of the network.
Investigators are collaborating with Maharashtra and border‑district authorities to map the syndicate’s reach, including suspected relocations of converted individuals into properties acquired through the network. ATS has questioned at least one former village head and bureaucrats to expose administrative collusion.