Maeeshat News Network | Mumbai

Jamaluddin, known as Jhangur Baba or Ghanshyam Rohera, is a controversial figure in India, primarily linked to an alleged illegal religious conversion network. While his activities in Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh, where he was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in July 2025, have drawn significant attention, his ties to Mumbra, a suburb of Thane, Maharashtra, offer crucial insights into his early life and operations.

Originally a Mumbai resident, Ghanshyam Rohera reportedly converted to Islam in Dubai in 2015, along with his wife, Nasreen (also known as Neetu), and their daughter. Before adopting the persona of a self-styled Sufi spiritual leader, he was a small-scale gemstone and ring seller who frequented Mumbai’s Haji Ali Dargah. Around 2020, his fortunes shifted dramatically, enabling significant property acquisitions and the establishment of an alleged conversion network centered in Balrampur, near the Chand Auliya Dargah. His earlier years in Mumbai, particularly in areas like Mumbra, Thane, are critical to understanding the foundation of his operations.

Alleged Connections to Mumbra’s Builders

Reports suggest Jhangur Baba may have invested in Mumbra’s builders, with some claims indicating that many builders in Mumbra hail from Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh. However, no direct evidence from verified sources confirms these investments or the specific involvement of Balrampur-origin builders in Mumbra. The Uttar Pradesh ATS and Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigations, which uncovered Jhangur Baba’s purchase of over 2 lakh square feet of land in Pune for Rs 16 crore and financial transactions worth Rs 60–106 crore, including Rs 1 crore linked to properties in Mumbai’s Bandra East and Mahim West, indicate a sophisticated financial network. While these transactions involve Mumbai, they do not explicitly mention Mumbra’s builders.

The claim that many Mumbra builders originate from Balrampur remains unverified, but the shared cultural or regional ties between Balrampur and Mumbra’s Muslim community could suggest informal networks that Jhangur Baba might have tapped into during his early career.

The ATS and ED investigations revealed Jhangur Baba’s substantial financial dealings, including Rs 100 crore in property acquisitions and Rs 30–40 crore in Bank of Baroda accounts. His associates made over 40 international trips to Islamic nations, raising suspicions of foreign funding. While these activities are primarily linked to Balrampur, his earlier presence in Mumbai, including potential ties to Mumbra, could have facilitated initial funding or logistical support. Mumbra’s connectivity to Mumbai’s financial hubs and its active real estate market may have provided opportunities for Jhangur Baba to channel funds or establish contacts, possibly with builders or other business entities.

The ED raids in July 2025 targeted 14 locations, including two in Mumbai, uncovering land documents, luxury vehicles, and unaccounted cash. These findings suggest that Jhangur Baba’s financial operations extended to Maharashtra, potentially including Mumbra’s real estate sector, though specific evidence of builder investments is lacking. If builders from Balrampur were active in Mumbra, they could have been part of a broader network facilitating property deals, similar to the Pune transactions involving court staff relatives.

In July 2025, the Balrampur district administration demolished Jhangur Baba’s illegal mansion, along with a college, hospital, and madrassa built on encroached government land, following a notice issued to Nasreen on May 17, 2025. This action dismantled a significant portion of his alleged “empire,” which relied on illegal land acquisitions and suspected foreign funding. While these events occurred in Balrampur, they highlight the scale of Jhangur Baba’s operations, which likely required a multi-state network, potentially including early activities in Mumbra.

Jhangur Baba’s connections to Mumbra, while not as well-documented as his Balrampur activities, reflect his early life in Mumbai and possible engagement with its suburbs, including Mumbra’s real estate market. While claims of investments in Mumbra’s builders and their Balrampur origins remain unconfirmed, his financial network, as uncovered by the ATS and ED, suggests ties to Maharashtra that could include Mumbra. As investigations continue, further details may clarify the extent of his activities in Thane. For now, Jhangur Baba’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the intersection of religion, commerce, and illicit networks in India’s urban landscapes.