The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has filed a detailed chargesheet against Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba and his son Mehboob, accusing them of running one of the largest religious conversion rackets in the state. According to investigators, the duo allegedly received over ₹500 crore from foreign sources, mainly from Muslim countries, to systematically target poor, widowed, and vulnerable women across Balrampur and adjoining districts.
The ATS claims that the network operated with a clear long-term objective — to convert people through inducements and coercion, with the ultimate ideological goal of transforming India into an Islamic nation by 2047. The chargesheet, backed by statements from 29 witnesses, including 10 victims, outlines how the accused and their associates used money, manipulation, and even threats to push people into adopting Islam.
One of the survivors alleged that she was tricked into visiting a shop on the pretext of collecting a saree, only to be assaulted in a private room and then pressured to convert. Another victim recalled being constantly told that the "entire country must be made Islamic by 2047." Such testimonies, according to the ATS, provide direct evidence of the coercive and exploitative nature of the operation.
The investigation has also spotlighted the role of Naveen Rohra, a Dubai-returned businessman, who reportedly abandoned his overseas ventures to focus exclusively on conversion activities in India. ATS records suggest that Rohra received ₹16.50 crore from foreign sources, out of which ₹1.30 crore was transferred to Chhangur and Mehboob. These funds were allegedly used to buy land in Balrampur, Bahraich, and nearby districts, with plans to establish Islamic Dawa Centres and madrasas.
Authorities describe the operation as highly organised and well-financed, with the collected funds and land purchases indicating that the activities went beyond isolated cases. The chargesheet also references allegations of sexual exploitation by Mehboob and Rohra, highlighting how coercion was coupled with abuse of vulnerable women under the guise of conversion.
The ATS maintains that the conspiracy was not only religious in nature but also carried anti-national overtones. Officials revealed that foreign travel using Nepal-issued passports was part of the network’s strategy, and a so-called "hate toolkit" was recovered, containing instructions for publishing anti-Hindu scripts. These discoveries, investigators argue, underline the wider national and international dimensions of the case.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has strongly condemned the alleged racket, calling it "anti-social" and "anti-national," and assured that a multi-agency probe involving the ATS, Enforcement Directorate (ED), and potentially the National Investigation Agency (NIA) would get to the root of the conspiracy.
While the chargesheet has brought significant evidence to light, Chhangur Baba has denied all allegations. "I am innocent. I don’t know anything," he told reporters. Despite his claims, authorities believe the case represents a deliberate and systematic effort to exploit social vulnerabilities and destabilise the fabric of society through forced conversions.
