Are Legal Troubles Escalating for Chhangur Baba with Land Fraud Allegations?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Chhangur Baba faces serious allegations of fraud.
- Businessman Mohammad Ahmed claims intimidation and harassment.
- The land deal involved 1.87 lakh square feet in Lonavala.
- Legal scrutiny is increasing around Chhangur Baba's activities.
- Authorities are investigating potential illegal funding and activities.
Pune/Lonavala, July 17 (NationPress) In a surprising turn of events surrounding the self-proclaimed spiritual figure Chhangur Baba, Mumbai businessman Mohammad Ahmed has emerged with grave accusations of intimidation, fraud, and criminal conspiracy linked to a valuable land transaction in Lonavala.
During a media briefing, Ahmed asserted that he faced “threats and harassment” from Chhangur Baba and his associates after a registered land sale agreement soured. In 2023, Mohammad Ahmed entered into a contract with Chhangur Baba for a plot of land measuring 1.87 lakh square feet in Lonavala.
According to the agreement, Chhangur Baba was to pay Rs 16.5 crore to Ahmed through a registered contract. However, after an initial payment of Rs 49 lakh, Chhangur Baba reportedly started delaying further payments.
The agreement had a validity of 12 months, but before the term expired, Ahmed claims Chhangur Baba began postponing the transaction and tried to seize the land without meeting the financial obligations.
“He started evading further payments, and when I pressed for them, I was met with threats and pressure. It was evident that he wanted to acquire the land without fulfilling the agreement,” Ahmed stated.
Worried about potential misconduct, Ahmed initiated a civil lawsuit in the Vadgaon Maval Court in Pune, seeking to annul the agreement. He also accused Chhangur Baba of trying to leverage his influence in Uttar Pradesh to fabricate criminal charges against him.
“When that tactic failed, he attempted to use local thugs to intimidate me and my family. Out of fear, I kept quiet. But now, with numerous cases against him surfacing, I’ve chosen to approach the Pune Police,” Ahmed added.
Ahmed further alleged that Chhangur Baba's close aides, including Abid Rabbani and Sameer Srivastava, were managing his undisclosed wealth and concealing their true identities. He claimed that proceeds from other land transactions, such as five bighas in Chitayan village in Utraula, Uttar Pradesh, were being redirected to illicit religious conversion operations.
These allegations arise as Chhangur Baba, whose real name is Jamaluddin, faces intense legal scrutiny. Earlier this month, he was apprehended by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for allegedly orchestrating a large-scale religious conversion scheme, targeting members of the Scheduled Castes and economically disadvantaged groups across various states.
Two of his main associates, Neetu alias Nasreen and her spouse Naveen, have also been incarcerated. Following the ATS's complaint, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated a case on July 9 to investigate money laundering and foreign funding related to the alleged conversions.
Authorities have disclosed that Chhangur Baba has accumulated assets exceeding Rs 100 crore in a short period, raising significant concerns about the origins of his wealth and the network backing him.
Now, Ahmed is set to formally lodge a complaint with the Pune Police, accusing Chhangur Baba of land fraud, criminal intimidation, and attempted extortion.
“This situation extends beyond a single transaction - it involves a much larger scheme encompassing illegal funding, conversions, and intimidation. It’s time for the truth to emerge,” he concluded.