The Enforcement Directorate is conducting searches at 14 locations across Uttar Pradesh and Mumbai in connection with the Chhangur Baba religious conversion case.
The raids, which began at 5am, are being carried out at 12 locations in UP's Balrampur and two in Mumbai - Bandra and Mahim.
Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba, who has been accused of running a large-scale religious conversion racket, was arrested by the UP Anti-Terrorism Squad on July 5 in connection with the conversion racket. His close associate Neetu alias Nasreen was also held from Lucknow. Both have been reportedly involved in a wide network of conversion process that included luring and coercing vulnerable people - most of whom were Hindu women and minors - to convert them into Islam.
According to a report in India Today, the law enforcement agency has alleged that around Rs 2 crore was transferred from the bank account of Naveen, an accused in the conversion racket, to a person named Shehzad Sheikh.
ED is conducting searches at Sheikh's Mumbai residences. Sheikh, who was reportedly present at his Bandra residence, is also being questioned.
Last week, ED launched a probe into foreign funding worth over Rs 100 crore received by Chhangur Baba, the mastermind of a religious conversion racket. The funding, primarily from Middle East, was reportedly received in 40 bank accounts linked to Chhangur Baba and his network.
Chhangur Baba's empire
Accused of running a large-scale religious conversion racket, Chhangur Baba reportedly used to go around on his bicycle selling rings and amulets. With time, Baba's influence grew in his locality and he went on to become a village head. Currently, Chhangur Baba has funds worth Rs 106 crore.
Chhangur Baba's empire is in the Uttaraula area of UP's Balrampur district, bordering Nepal. He built a building next to a shrine in Madhpur, barely a few kilometres away from Rehra Mafi village from where Chhangur belongs. The government, however, found the building illegal. Authorities on Wednesday bulldozed the alleged illegal construction on government land.
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