A man who had been stealing donation boxes and religious articles such as Nagfana, bells, lamps, and more, worth Rs 2.17 lakh from various temples, was arrested by the Waluj police on Thursday. The stolen items were seized from the accused.
According to the details, the thefts began on January 9 when a Nagfana from the Shivling at the Mahadev Temple in Ranjangaon went missing. Subsequently, similar complaints from other temples in the Waluj area were reported at the police station. Acting on a complaint lodged by Gangaram Hiwale, the Waluj police initiated an investigation. Using technical evidence and CCTV footage, the police identified a man in a suspicious condition, seen roaming around the temple.
The suspect, identified as Chandrakant Tukaram Satpute, a resident of Sonvala, Ambejogai, Beed, and currently residing in Kamlapur, was apprehended. Initially denying the charges, Satpute eventually confessed during interrogation that he had stolen articles from temples in Ranjangaon and Bajajnagar, selling them to a shopkeeper.
The police then arrested the shopkeeper, Mujeeb Rahiman Shaikh, a resident of Itawa. During the investigation, they seized stolen items including a copper Nagfana worth Rs 7,000, a copper bell worth Rs 3,000, a copper lamp worth Rs 1,000, Nag worth Rs 6,900, and a motorcycle worth Rs 2 lakh, among other items, all valued at Rs 2.17 lakh.
The police action was carried out under the guidance of PI Rameshwar Gade and executed by API Manoj Shinde, PSI Praveen Patharkar, Dinesh Ban, Dhiraj Kabliye, Hanuman Thoke, Manmohanmurli Kolmi, Balasaheb Andhale, Rajabhau Kolhe, Yogesh Shelke, Suresh Kache, and others.
