Pune: Five Arrested for Rs 2 Lakh Theft from Shree Tarkeshwar Temple in Yerawada
Yerawada, 12th August 2024: Pune Police have arrested a gang of five involved in the theft of Rs 2 lakh from the donation box at Shree Tarkeshwar Temple. The theft had also been highlighted during the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly’s Monsoon Session, increasing pressure on the police. The suspects broke into the temple and stole cash donated by anonymous contributors. A case has been registered against them at Yerawada Police Station.
Sudhir Vasantrao Wambure, a Yerawada resident, lodged a complaint with the police. The arrested individuals include Swarup Rajesh Chopade, Rajan Patel, Akshay Sahu, Atharva Vatkar, and Amit Sheriya, all from Nagpur. They face charges under IPC Sections 457 (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night) and 380 (theft in dwelling house).
Senior Police Inspector Ravindra Shelke stated that Shree Tarkeshwar Temple has donation boxes for both regular and anonymous contributors and employs security guards for oversight. On 4th June, unknown assailants entered the temple at midnight, broke the door lock, and vandalized six donation boxes, making off with approximately Rs 2 lakh.
The Yerawada Police faced significant scrutiny due to the Assembly session’s questions. The Detection Branch (DB) reviewed over 200 CCTV footages from Pune to Ahmednagar, leading to the identification and arrest of Chopade near Pune Railway Station. His interrogation led to the resolution of the case. Vatkar was also apprehended in Nagpur. Out of the stolen Rs 2 lakh, Rs 1,05,000 was recovered, and the Jupiter Scooter used in the theft was seized. Additionally, two theft cases were resolved, including one registered at Chandan Nagar Police Station under IPC Section 379 (punishment for theft).
This operation was conducted under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police (East) Manoj Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 4) Vijay Kumar Magar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Himmat Jadhav, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Yerawada Division) Pranjali Sonawane, Senior Police Inspector Ravindra Shelke from Yerawada Police Station, Police Inspector (Crime) Chhagan Kapase, and Police Inspector Pallavi Meher. The team also included Police Sub-Inspector Swapnil Patil and Police Constables Datta Shinde, Tushar Kharade, Kiran Ghute, Sagar Jagdale, Pravin Khatmode, Anil Shinde, Suraj Ombase, Dattatraya Shinde, Prashant Kamble, Sushant Bhosale, Vitthal Ghule, and Vishal Nilakh from the DB of Yerawada Police Station.
