Chhangur Baba gained popularity as religious preacher in past 10 yrs

From selling gemstones for different 'astrological remedies' on a bicycle while travelling from one village to another until 2015, to gaining popularity as Muslim religious preacher popular as 'Peer Baba' alias Hazrat Baba Jalaluddin, the Balrampur-based kingpin of illegal religious conversion racket, Jalaluddin Shah alias Chhangur Baba came a long way in the last decade before landing in the net of UP Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on July 5, said senior police officials here on Tuesday.

- Rohit Kumar Singh and Shariq Siddiqui

They said the kingpin amassed multiple properties in Balrampur, Pune and a fleet of luxury vehicles in the past one decade. Officials said the sprawling property, the demolition of which began on Tuesday for being illegally constructed on gram sabha land was spread over nearly three bighas and estimated to be worth ₹3 crore.