Raipur Jain Temple Theft Solved: Gardener, Family Members Arrested; Stolen Items Worth Rs15 Lakh Recovered
Raipur
The police have solved the theft case at the Jain temple in the state capital, Raipur. The theft was committed by the gardener who worked at the temple, with assistance from his brother and mother. The accused stole items worth approximately Rs 15 lakh from the temple.
After committing the theft, they fled to Bhopal with the stolen gold and silver items. During the investigation, when the police questioned the gardener, he became evasive while answering their questions. Upon stricter interrogation, the gardener confessed to the crime.
The police have arrested Sandeep Mali (27), Sagar Mali (25), and their mother Sushma Mali (48), all residents of Bhopal, in connection with the case. They also recovered stolen items worth Rs 15 lakh from the accused.
According to information, the 1008 Padam Prabhu Digambar Jain Temple is located in the Labhandi area. Around 1:30 AM on December 22, thieves entered the temple through the side door. The door, secured with two locks, was cut open using a hacksaw. After entering, the thieves first surveyed the area and then cut the wires of the CCTV cameras.
The thieves stole several valuable items from the temple, including three silver umbrellas with gold polish, five Panchmeru (holy artifacts), eight Ashta Pratiharya (sacred items), two large silver plates, one gold Kalash (sacred pot), nine silver Abhishek Kalash, six Shanti Dhara jars, four silver umbrellas, two silver plates, three small decorative items, five small silver plates, one silver pot, a large silver urn, silver spoons, and other items. The stolen goods have been recovered by the police.
The police received a complaint regarding the theft around 6 AM. A team from Telibandha police station reached the scene promptly. The temple management had hired a security guard for protection. The guard claimed that he had fallen asleep during the incident and did not hear any noise, even though the thieves used a hacksaw to break the locks.
