Ram temple theft on Hanuman Jayanti

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

A theft was reported at a Ram temple in Samarthnagar in the early hours of April 2 (Hanuman Jayanti). The accused allegedly broke five locks four on channel gates and one on the main door entered between 2 am and 3 am, remained inside for nearly an hour, smashed two donation boxes in the sanctum and fled with about Rs 50,000 cash and brass padukas of Lord Ram.

Priest Uday Kulkarni (47) discovered the rear gate open at 4.30 am and alerted trustees. Kranti Chowk police registered a case; sub-inspector Nishigandha Mhaske is probing. In a separate March 23 theft at a Buddha Vihar in Nisarg Colony, Bhavsingpura, brass idols and items worth Rs 1.11 lakh were stolen. Two juveniles were detained, property recovered, said Cantonment police in-charge Dr Vivek Jadhav. Police suspect a juvenile may be involved in the temple theft as well.