Claim
400 private security guards worked at the temple on monthly salaries of ₹19,000–24,000, and most of them were relatives or acquaintances of Champat Rai's close associates, hired on his recommendation.
“मंदिर की सुरक्षा में कुल 400 निजी सुरक्षाकर्मी काम कर रहे थे। जिनकी मासिक सैलरी 19 से ₹24,000 होती थी। इनमें से ज्यादातर सुरक्षाकर्मी चंपत राय के करीबियों के रिश्तेदार और जानने वाले थे।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
Central assertion covers the 400-guard headcount, the salary band, and hiring of associates' relatives on Rai's recommendation. The 400 figure is corroborated, the ~Rs 1 crore/month total is consistent with a Rs 19,000–24,000 per-head band, and the favouritism-in-hiring angle is confirmed as being probed with Rai acknowledging appointments; no stated sub-detail is contradicted. Confidence moderated because the exact salary band and the 'most were relatives' quantifier are not independently pinned to a source.
Evidence
- https://www.amarujala.com/uttar-pradesh/ayodhya/around-400-private-security-personnel-under-the-investigations-radar-ayodhya-news-c-97-1-ayo1005-152851-2026-06-29 ~400 private security personnel deployed and under investigation pending audit
- https://www.patrika.com/ayodhya-news/ram-mandir-trust-champat-rai-security-controversy-12-crore-security-claim-ayodhya-news-20709410 400 private guards costing ~Rs 1 crore/month (≈Rs 25,000 avg per head, consistent with 19,000–24,000 base range) pending audit
- https://www.india.com/news/india/ayodhya-champat-rai-fails-to-answer-many-questions-during-interrogation-now-temple-appointments-are-also-under-scrutiny-8461498/ SIT questioned Rai on why responsibilities/appointments went to relatives and acquaintances; he said opportunities were given to those 'in need' pending audit