Hindu sentiments outraged: Muslim man drinks alcohol near a Hindu temple in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh
Budaun, Uttar Pradesh, India 
16 June, 2026
Case Summary
A Hanuman temple’s sanctity was desecrated in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, after a Muslim man was seen consuming alcohol near the temple premises. A video of the incident went viral on social media, following which demands for action against the accused began to rise. A Hindu social media user lodged a complaint with the police, seeking an investigation and examination of the CCTV footage of the temple complex. Users on social media, including Rohit Katar Hindu, Bhai Lamba Ji, and Ayush Rashtriya Bajrang Dal from the Pucca Pul area under Usiahat police station, posted a video on X (formerly Twitter) and submitted a police complaint. The complaint stated that the Muslim man was seen consuming alcohol near the Hanuman temple. In the video, a man was heard saying to the perpetrator how he would feel if someone consumed alcohol while sitting inside a mosque. In addition, some children and a woman holding a bottle were seen at the scene. The complainants stated that previously a video of a Muslim man from the Usiahat area had gone viral on social media, in which he made objectionable comments about Hindu organisations such as the Bajrang Dal and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). In that case, the police had taken action for breach of peace. The complainants demanded an impartial investigation in this case and appropriate action regarding the viral video of alcohol consumption near the temple premises. At the time of writing this report, the police stated that further action would be taken after the investigation.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case is being added to the 'Undecided Database' of the Hinduphobia Tracker because the available information does not establish a definite religious motive behind the act. In the absence of sufficient evidence indicating that the incident was driven by hostility towards Hinduism or Hindus, it is difficult to classify it as a hate crime within the tracker. In this case, a Muslim man was seen consuming alcohol near a Hanuman temple in Badaun. The incident triggered outrage among Hindu organisations and local residents, leading to demands for police action and raising religious tensions in the area. However, the available evidence primarily establishes that alcohol was consumed near the temple and does not, by itself, establish the perpetrator's intent. In Hinduism, a temple is regarded as a sacred space where the deity is believed to be present and worshipped by devotees. It is not merely a physical structure but a consecrated place of worship that is expected to maintain a spiritually pure environment for religious rituals, prayers, and devotional practices. The sanctity of a temple is therefore an integral aspect of Hindu religious life and is treated with great reverence by devotees. The purity of a temple is traditionally maintained through prescribed rituals, cleanliness, and conduct that reflects respect for the sacred space. Activities considered impure or inappropriate, including the consumption of intoxicants such as alcohol, are regarded as inconsistent with the sanctity of the temple environment. Consequently, drinking alcohol in or immediately adjacent to a temple can be perceived by devotees as a defilement or desecration of the sacred space and hurts religious sentiments. However, in the present case, it is not clear from the available evidence whether the accused was consuming alcohol inside the temple premises or in very close proximity to the temple. The exact location and distance from the temple have not been established through the available reports. This lack of clarity makes it difficult to conclusively determine that the act was intended as a deliberate insult to the temple or Hindu religious beliefs. Further, no CCTV footage or other conclusive evidence establishing the circumstances and intent behind the act has been made public. As a result, it cannot be ruled out that the incident may have been an act of general public nuisance or irresponsible behaviour involving alcohol consumption rather than one motivated by religious hostility. Without evidence demonstrating a clear intent to target the temple or offend Hindu religious sentiments, attributing a religious motive would be speculative. Therefore, since the available evidence does not establish a definite religious motivation behind the incident, this case is being added to the Undecided Database of the Hinduphobia Tracker. If any further information emerges in future demonstrating religious motivations behind the act, it will be added to the Hate Crime Database.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
