Pune: Lonavala Land Deal Exposes Deeper Web of Illegal Funding and Conversion Syndicate Linked to Chhangur Baba

Pune/Lonavala/Lucknow, 10th July 2025: A high-profile land deal in Maharashtra’s Lonavala has exposed the deep financial and criminal operations of Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba, the alleged mastermind of a syndicate accused of illegally converting Hindu and non-Muslim girls through manipulation and foreign-funded operations.

According to investigating agencies, Chhangur Baba attempted to acquire 1,87,000 square feet of prime land in Lonavala for ₹16.5 crore. However, the deal fell through due to non-payment of the remaining amount, despite an initial advance of ₹49.5 lakh.

“He missed the deadline and failed to pay the remaining amount,” said Mohammad Khan, the landowner from Utraula and now resident of Pimpri Chinchwad. “I waited, but after repeated delays, the deal was cancelled.”

Investigators say the Lonavala deal was just one part of a larger land acquisition racket, with investments funneled through foreign funding and carried out by Chhangur’s close aides — Neetu alias Nasreen and her husband Naveen alias Jamaluddin.

Profit-Sharing Clause and Fake Documentation
The Lonavala land agreement also included a profit-sharing clause involving the court clerk from Utraula (Uttar Pradesh) and his wife — both now named as accused. The actual market value of the land exceeds ₹200 crore, according to officials.

Investigators have found evidence that Chhangur Baba used forged documents and misused government connections to grab disputed, Gram Samaj, and pond lands by converting them fraudulently into Bhumidhari (freehold) plots. Eidul Islam, a Nagpur-based gang member, played a key role in these operations, often posing as a national general secretary of an unnamed organization.

Foreign Funding Trail: ₹106 Crore in 40 Bank Accounts
A detailed probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has revealed that the Chhangur gang received ₹106 crore from Gulf countries, routed through at least 40 bank accounts linked to gang members, including Neetu, Naveen, and institutions associated with Chhangur Baba such as:
Asvi Enterprises
Asvi Charitable Trust
Asipia Hasni Hussaini Collection
Baba Tajuddin Asvi Boutique
“Neetu and Naveen’s bank accounts show high-volume transactions from Gulf countries. Neetu also purchased land using Hindu names after converting to Islam,” a source from the ATS confirmed.

The Dubai connection is under close scrutiny. While Neetu and Naveen travelled to Dubai 19 times, they reportedly went together only once — and did not return together. Neetu’s father, a Dubai-based scrap dealer, is also under the scanner.
Properties, Construction and Alleged Violence
Using these funds, Chhangur Baba allegedly bought agricultural land in Pune’s Maval tehsil (Lonavala) for ₹16 crore in the name of Naveen and his own son Mehboob. Despite no change in land use, the land saw rapid development: a bungalow, two showrooms, a hospital, stable, storeroom, and boundary wall — all constructed for ₹12 crore.

The contractor, Babbu alias Wasiuddin, was reportedly paid just ₹5.7 crore. When he demanded the remaining payment, he was allegedly beaten, and a false SC/ST case was filed against him to silence the matter.

“It was a clear case of intimidation. They used legal cases as weapons to avoid payments,” said an officer familiar with the investigation.
Syndicate’s Operation: 15 Years of Covert Conversion
Authorities say the illegal conversion syndicate has been operating in Balrampur (Uttar Pradesh) for 15 years, targeting Hindu and non-Muslim girls, luring them into relationships, and converting them under pressure. Victims were brought from various states and confined at hideouts controlled by Chhangur Baba.

According to ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash, multiple illegal properties and assets accumulated through foreign funding are now being identified and will be seized or demolished under the Gangster Act.

“The gang was systematically using foreign funds to trap and convert girls while laundering money through land deals. Action will be taken under PMLA and the Gangster Act,” Yash said.
Police Remand and Continued Investigation
On Wednesday, ATS took Chhangur Baba and Neetu on seven-day police remand. Both were interrogated separately, including questions about their foreign trips, financial dealings, and connections with other suspects, some of whom allegedly have links to the late mafia don Mukhtar Ansari.

“This investigation is far from over,” said a senior ED official. “We are tracking all properties, suspicious land deals, and identifying gang members across Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.”

The ED has formally registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and sought detailed records from banks and local authorities, including the District Magistrate and SP of Balrampur.