Claim
There has been a theft of donations (chanda chori) at the Ram Mandir, and an investigation into it is ongoing.
“दैट देयर हाज़ बीन अ चंदा चोरी, डोनेशन चोरी इज़ समथिंग दैट एवरीबडी इज़ एक्सट्रेमली हर्ट अबाउट। फॉर दैट द इन्वेस्टीगेशन इज़ गोइंग ऑन।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
The claim matches the record as of the June 30, 2026 broadcast. Following ex-MLA Pawan Pandey's allegation that Rs 7-7.5 crore in Ram Mandir donations were misappropriated, the UP government constituted an SIT on June 14, 2026; an FIR naming eight donation-counting staff was registered on June 25; cash (~Rs 20-80 lakh) was recovered; and the accused were remanded to judicial custody on June 29. A theft/embezzlement of donations ('chanda chori') was therefore an established, FIR-backed case with an active SIT investigation at the time of the statement.
Evidence
- https://www.republicworld.com/india/ram-temple-donation-row-amid-spate-of-resignations-know-how-the-controversy-erupted-sequence-of-events-so-far-2026-06-26-130012 Explainer dated June 26, 2026 (before the broadcast) on the Ram Temple donation row: former SP MLA Pawan Pandey alleged Rs 7-7.5 crore in donations were misappropriated, triggering resignations and a probe. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://thefederal.com/category/states/north/uttar-pradesh/shri-ram-janmabhoomi-trust-chief-reigns-amid-donations-embezzlement-probe-248100 Reports a three-member SIT was formed on June 14, 2026 to probe the alleged misappropriation of Ram temple donations; Trust general secretary Champat Rai and trustee Anil Mishra resigned amid the probe. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://thenewsmill.com/2026/07/up-police-intensify-probe-into-ram-mandir-donation-embezzlement-case/ Confirms an FIR was lodged on June 25, 2026 under multiple BNS sections, eight counting-staff accused were named, and an Ayodhya court remanded them to 14-day judicial custody on June 29 — i.e., the investigation was actively ongoing as of the June 30 broadcast. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://aninews.in/news/national/politics/chanda-chori-at-ram-mandir-has-shaken-nation-kc-venugopal-writes-to-pm-modi-seeks-sc-monitored-probe-into-alleged-embezzelment-row20260702145242/ Wire agency (ANI) coverage explicitly using the 'chanda chori' framing for the Ram Mandir donation embezzlement case, with political demands for a Supreme Court-monitored probe, showing the case remained under investigation. ✓ reachable · archived