Pune: Withing a span of five years, the Sharada Gajanan temple at Mandai popularly known as the Mandai Ganpati, was struck again by robbers who have stolen gold ornaments weighing around 220 grams and worth about Rs 12 lakh. In July 2015, a robber had stolen gold ornaments worth Rs 50 lakh but he was arrested within few days after his father – an autorickshaw driver – had turned him in.
In the fresh incident of theft, two gold ornaments have been reportedly stolen. The incident happened at around 1.30 am on Friday (January 8) early morning. CCTV footage revealed that only one person had entered the temple while committing the theft.
Office bearers of the temple trust have lodged a complaint in this regard at the Vishrambaug police station. Based on this complaint, police have registered FIR against the unidentified suspect.
According to police, the suspect broke open the door on the right side of the temple. He took off the two gold ornaments put on the Ganesh idol. While fleeing away, the suspect also broke open the donation box and decamped with some cash from it.
When the temple priest came at the temple at around 6am , he noticed that the gold ornaments were missing and the donation box was vandalised. He immediately informed the office bearers about the incident and they later informed about it to the police. Vishrambaug police have taken the CCTV footage in posession and are investigating the case.
Earlier in July 2015, Vijay Narayan Kundale, a resident of Kothrud, was arrested in the Mandai Ganpati theft case.
Vijay Narayan Kundale
His father had claimed that he had committed the crime under the influence of some drug.