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The racket allegedly operated under the guise of spiritual healing but was actively involved in grooming, blackmail, and forced conversions of Hindu girls
Under tight police security, teams from the Balrampur district administration and ATS razed portions of a three-acre estate situated on the busy Utraula-Mankapur road. (Image/News18)
In what is being described as one of the most massive demolition actions by the state in recent times, bulldozers roared for the third straight day through a sprawling, fortress-like mansion owned by Jalaluddin, alias Jhangur Baba—the alleged mastermind of a vast religious conversion racket in Uttar Pradesh.
Under tight police security, teams from the Balrampur district administration and ATS razed portions of a three-acre estate situated on the busy Utraula-Mankapur road. The Rs 3-crore mansion, consisting of over 70 rooms, private roads, electric fencing, and even a stable, served as the epicentre of what officials say was a nationwide network that operated under the guise of spiritual healing but was actively involved in grooming, blackmail, and forced conversions of Hindu girls.
By Thursday afternoon, over 1.5 lakh quintals of debris had been hauled away. Officials, visibly grappling with the scale of the operation, said that over 1,500 sq ft of illegal construction—including an administrative block of a still-under-construction degree college, a hospital structure, and a 50×20 ft stable—had been demolished. Several heavy-duty pillars were also brought down.
UP Government’s Stand: ‘War Against Radicalism’
“This is a war against radical elements who manipulate faith and women for money and ideology. We will destroy their illegal empires, brick by brick,” UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath said while speaking in Azamgarh. Referring to Jhangur Baba as a “jallad” (executioner), the CM vowed to crush all such networks working against national integrity.
Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak called the accused a disgrace to society and said that the state would leave no stone unturned in bringing down such networks. Meanwhile, UP ADG (Law & Order) and ATS chief Amitabh Yash confirmed, “We have secured a 7-day remand of Jhangur Baba and his associate Neetu alias Nasreen. ATS is questioning them regarding foreign funding, network spread, and benami assets. The ED has been given a copy of the FIR.”
Arrest After Months of Surveillance
Jhangur Baba was arrested in Lucknow on July 5 along with Nasreen, following months of surveillance and raids. He had been underground since November 2024, when the ATS filed a detailed FIR implicating him, his son Mehmood, and eight others in a complex scheme of religious conversions aided by foreign funds and fraudulent identities.
According to ATS sources, the 50,000-rupee reward accused operated for nearly 15 years, employing grooming tactics, emotional manipulation, and coercion. Hindu girls were trapped by men posing with Hindu names and later taken to Jhangur Baba’s “dargah” for forced conversions. Victims were often rebranded with Islamic names, blackmailed, and threatened with fabricated legal cases.
The “Love Jihad” model employed by the gang included caste-based incentives funded by overseas donors. ATS officials revealed rate cards: Rs 15-16 lakh for Brahmin and Kshatriya girls, Rs 10-12 lakh for OBC girls, and Rs 8-10 lakh for others. “This wasn’t just about conversion. It was about psychological warfare and demographic manipulation,” said an ATS personnel who is part of the investigation.
Foreign Funding, Fake Accounts, and Luxury Assets
The gang is believed to have received over Rs 100 crore through 40 fake accounts linked to Jhangur Baba and his proxies. The money was used to acquire bungalows and luxury vehicles and to build institutions like the hospital and college now being demolished.
Jhangur Baba also published a controversial book titled Shijar-e-Tayyaba, which officials say was a brainwashing tool promoting religious radicalism. The text was found in multiple locations during raids, indicating it was used to condition new recruits.
The ATS believes Jhangur Baba and his team travelled to Islamic countries at least 40 times in the last decade. “The possibility of international radical links cannot be ruled out. We are working with ED, IB, and may rope in NIA for deeper investigation,” ADG Amitabh Yash added.
Victim Testimonies Unveil Shocking Exploitation
One of the most chilling testimonies came from Gunja Gupta, who recounted being tricked by a man named Abu Ansari posing as “Amit”. She was taken to the dargah, where she was renamed Alina Ansari.
“They promised me a better life but threatened to destroy my family if I resisted,” she said in her statement.
Among the reconverts was a woman who alleged that another accused, Meraj Ansari, alias Rudra Sharma, forced her into marriage. “He told my mother he could cure my father’s alcoholism through Baba. But later, he forcibly married me at the dargah. I only found out his real identity later. When I resisted, he blackmailed my parents with private videos,” she alleged. Her parents are currently in jail after being booked as accused in Meraj’s death.
Another victim, Harjeet from Balrampur, alleged that false cases were filed against him for refusing conversion. “They offered me money and a job in Nagpur. When I refused, two fake FIRs were filed against me. I was forced to convert out of fear.”
‘Ghar Wapasi’ Ceremony in Lucknow
Meanwhile, in a recent purification ceremony in Lucknow, 15 individuals who were allegedly converted under duress reconverted to Hinduism. They were given saffron scarves and tilak by members of the Vishwa Hindu Raksha Parishad.
Heavy police presence ensured no disruption as chants of “Jai Shri Ram” echoed during the ceremony.
Fortress-Like Mansion Comes Down
Back at the demolition site, dust and debris clouded the air as machines struggled to tear down high concrete walls fitted with electric wires. Even the stables were found to house luxury fittings, and a miniature power station operated within the estate. Officials say the remaining 500 sq ft of illegal structures will be razed in the coming days.
“We served three notices—on May 17, June 17, and July 7. No reply came from the occupants. That’s why demolition was unavoidable,” said Utraula Tehsildar Satyapal Prajapati.
With bulldozers still working and ATS teams widening their investigation, the case of Jhangur Baba could emerge as one of the most sensational conversion rackets busted in the country in recent years. The probe continues.
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