<h1>Aide granted custody to ED in money laundering probe under illegal religious conversion racket allegations</h1> An aide of a religious figure was granted custody to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money-laundering investigation involving an alleged illegal religious conversion racket in Uttar Pradesh. The aide was previously arrested by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), which had also arrested the religious figure, his son, and associates under charges including unlawful religious conversion and conspiracy. The ED alleged that the religious figure received over Rs 60 crore through multiple bank accounts, including foreign funds, and concealed assets in the names of associates. Investigations revealed a network allegedly coercing economically disadvantaged individuals into conversion and using illicit funds to acquire and develop immovable properties. Following the arrests, illegal constructions linked to the accused were demolished, and the state government condemned the activities as anti-social and anti-national.