Donations for Murshidabad ‘Babri’ cross 2.4 crore: Kabir
Times of India | 9 December 2025
Berhampore: Donations for Humayun Kabir's ‘Babri'-styled mosque in Murshidabad's Rejinagar crossed Rs 2.4 crore, with Rs 2.1 crore received online into a bank account and Rs 37 lakh cash, Kabir said on Monday. Kabir had placed 12 donation boxes along with a QR code outside the mosque on Dec 6 when he laid its foundation. The amount quoted, Kabir said, was after six out of 12 boxes were opened between 7 am Sunday and Monday noon.
Kabir said the cost of the mosque's foundation-laying ceremony would be met from the donations made in cash. According to people close to Kabir, the main dais cost Rs 13 lakh with Rs 2 lakh spent on decoration. Biryani packets alone cost Rs 22 lakh, one of his aides said.
Kabir added that he had employed eight armed guards because of "security threats". "There is no point in going to the police. I will go to court. If Nawsad (Siddiqui) can get seven or eight cops, I am sure I can too," he said. On Saturday, while laying the foundation of the mosque, Kabir placed large donation boxes outside the venue and appealed for contributions from the public for the mosque's construction. Ever since he made his plea, supporters in large numbers have been coming to the mosque with cash and bricks for the structure, locals said.
On Sunday and Monday, the counting of cash was carried out by a team of 30 people using special machines. The remaining boxes are expected to be opened through Monday. To ensure transparency, the counting was live-streamed, Kabir said. He added that the response he was seeing had "exceeded all (his) expectations", with donations coming in from outside India.
Arrangements were made to move the money to a secure room under CCTV surveillance, and discussions are underway with banks regarding its safe handling, Kabir's aides said.