As the probe into the alleged religious conversion syndicate led by Chhangur Baba intensifies, documents accessed by India Today have revealed a direct link to Panama, exposing a sophisticated international money laundering operation. These documents, recovered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) during recent raids, point to the use of an offshore shell company to channel illicit funds.
According to ED sources, Chhangur Baba’s close aide, Naveen Rohra, established a shell company named Logos Marine SA in Panama in 2003, with an initial investment of USD 10,000. The firm was registered through a Panama-based entity, the International Shipping Bureau, with an authorised share capital of the same amount.
Although official records list foreign nationals as key stakeholders, investigators suspect this was a deliberate strategy to conceal the real ownership. The ED believes that Naveen Rohra retained full control and ownership of Logos Marine SA, using foreign nominees as a front.
Preliminary findings suggest that crores of rupees were laundered through this offshore entity, which was ostensibly structured as a shipping company. This aligns with broader leads in the ED’s investigation into Chhangur Baba’s network, which has flagged suspicious hawala transactions, bank transfers, and foreign remittances amounting to over Rs 100 crore in suspected illicit funds.
The recovery of these documents from Naveen Rohra’s premises earlier this month is expected to offer key insights into the financial machinery underpinning the alleged conversion racket. The ED is also examining how the laundered money was spent, particularly in light of allegations that the funds were used for illegal land acquisitions, purchase of luxury assets, and financing mass religious conversions orchestrated by the syndicate.
Chhangur Baba, along with his son Mehboob and associates Naveen Rohra alias Jamaluddin and Neetu alias Nasreen, has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). They are currently in judicial custody.
The ATS complaint describes a “large-scale” conspiracy involving illegal religious conversions, misuse of foreign funds, and activities deemed a potential threat to national security.
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