Jalaluddin alias Changur, the main accused in the conversion racket, was presented in the Special Court Lucknow. The ED has requested a 7-day remand in the money laundering and illegal funding case. The court has started the hearing.
Changur ED: Jalaluddin alias Changur, the accused named in the high-profile case related to religious conversion and the leader of the gang, was presented in the Special Court in Lucknow on Monday amidst heavy security arrangements. Changur was brought to the court at around 2:30 pm, where several senior ED (Enforcement Directorate) officials were already present.
ED seeks seven-day custody remand
The ED has filed a petition in the court seeking a seven-day custody remand of Changur. The agency argues that important information needs to be gathered from Jalaluddin regarding the illegal funding network, money laundering, and international contacts, for which detailed interrogation is necessary.
Background of Arrest and Previous Investigation
Changur was previously arrested by the UP STF and remained in STF remand for a few days. Now, the ED has prepared for a rigorous interrogation as it advances its investigation. Earlier, the STF investigation revealed that Changur is part of an organized gang involved in converting Hindu girls by offering inducements such as money, jobs, and marriage.
Suspicion of illegal funding and foreign links
The Enforcement Directorate suspects that Changur's network is not limited to the state or country, but that its funding may also be linked to foreign countries. The investigating agency believes that a well-planned funding channel is active for conversion activities, through which large-scale transactions have been carried out. The ED has several leads related to money laundering against Changur, which require interrogation to connect.
Hearing underway in court
Currently, the hearing on the ED's remand application is underway in the court. The court will decide whether Changur should be sent to the Enforcement Directorate for custodial interrogation or not. Both the direction and pace of the investigation will be determined after the decision on the remand.
