3 months ago
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The Greater Chennai City Police has arrested a 60-year-old antheral from Maharashtra who allegedly stole golden and metallic from Jain temples successful Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and different places.
Police sources said Sureshkumar, 58, of Purasawalkam, who serves arsenic the wide caput of the Sri Chandraprabhu Jain Naya Mandir temple spot located connected Mint Street, Elephant Gate, recovered connected February 14, 2025, that the temple locks had been broken.
Five metallic crowns weighing astir 10 kg successful total, which adorned the idols, and golden forehead plates weighing astir 600 grams had been stolen. Based connected his complaint, the Elephant Gate Crime Wing launched an investigation.
A peculiar squad of constabulary examined CCTV footage installed astatine the temple and recovered that a masked antheral had carried retired the theft astatine nighttime utilizing a torchlight. Police besides discovered that the aforesaid idiosyncratic was progressive successful akin thefts astatine 2 Jain temples successful Telangana.
Further probe revealed that the accused had earlier been arrested successful a lawsuit successful Karnataka, released connected bail, and had failed to look earlier the court, starring to the issuance of a non-bailable warrant against him. He had often changed locations and was recovered to beryllium hiding successful Pune, Maharashtra.
The constabulary squad rushed to Pune, conducted surveillance, and arrested Jeevan Singh of Haveli Taluk successful Pune connected February 8, 2026. Based connected his confession, constabulary besides arrested Rajbhau Rathod, 30, of Wadwani district, Maharashtra, who had allegedly purchased the stolen ornaments.
Both accused were produced connected February 9, earlier the Judicial Magistrate Court successful Belapur, Navi Mumbai. The 2nd accused, Rajbhau Rathod, was released, portion a transit warrant was obtained for the premier accused, Jeevan Singh, who was brought to Chennai connected February 11.
Further enquiry revealed that Jeevan Singh was besides progressive successful akin temple thefts successful Salem and Chengalpattu districts successful Tamil Nadu, arsenic good arsenic successful Karnataka and Telangana.
