Lucknow Court Approves 5-Day ED Custody of Chhangur Baba

Fast summary

• A Lucknow Court has granted the Enforcement directorate (ED) custody of Chhangur Baba alias Jalaluddin for five days, till August 1, 2025.
• Jalaluddin is accused of being involved in an illegal religious conversion syndicate.
• The Central Agency conducted raids on July 17 at 14 locations in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra linked to Jalaluddin.
• The ED found ₹60 crore funds in 22 bank accounts associated with him, including significant foreign funding.
• The accused was arrested by the U.P. Police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad on July 5 along with three others under charges related to unlawful religious conversions.
• An FIR alleges that the syndicate targeted vulnerable individuals like laborers, weaker sections, and widowed women through incentives or intimidation to convert them to Islam unlawfully.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The case highlights concerns around organized illegal activities tied to religious conversions and foreign funding channels within India. With ₹60 crore reportedly distributed across multiple accounts and raids uncovering evidence from two states, there is clear interest from authorities in investigating financial networks tied to such operations further. While laws like the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act emphasize protecting vulnerable populations from coercive practices, it also underscores the delicate balance needed between legal enforcement and ensuring freedom of religion as enshrined in India’s Constitution.

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