Priest, aide held for temple thefts in Bengaluru; police solve 13 cases with the arrest

Bengaluru: The Banashankari police have arrested a priest and his accomplice for temple thefts across the city, cracking 13 cases and recovering valuables worth Rs 14 lakh.

The suspects, 51-year-old priest Praveen Bhat with 10 theft cases against him, and 31-year-old Santosh P with two prior cases, were arrested on the night of September 3 near Gottigere. The police also seized a two-wheeler from them.

The investigation began after the president of the Siddi Mahaganapati Temple in Banashankari filed a complaint on September 3, stating that an unknown person, posing as a priest, had stolen a silver umbrella and lamp pillars from the sanctum.

During interrogation, the duo confessed to the Banashankari theft and admitted to similar crimes elsewhere in the city, saying they wanted to fund a lavish lifestyle.

The police have linked them to temple break-ins in Banashankari, Jayanagar, Kumaraswamy Layout, Girinagar, Rajarajeshwarinagar, Subramanyanagar, Talaghattapura, Kadugondanahalli, Sampigehalli, Kengeri, and Yelahanka.

They specifically targeted gold and silver ornaments adorning deities and cash from temple donation boxes (hundis).

Between September 3 and 12, the police recovered 5 kg of silver articles, 67 grams of gold ornaments, 1,426 grams of brass items, and 353 grams of copper articles.

With the arrests, the police said they have solved 13 cases of temple theft reported across the city.