Kerala police conducted a thorough investigation and successfully apprehended the suspects involved in the theft, including Ganesh Jha, an Indian-born Australian resident and physician, along with three women.
Published Oct 20, 2024 | 11:17 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 20, 2024 | 11:17 AM
Accidental gunshot inside Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple triggers brief panic
Four people who were allegedly involved in the theft of a traditional uruli (bronze vessel) from the highly secure Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram were arrested from Haryana on Sunday, 20 October.
The bronze vessel was stolen from the temple on the morning of Thursday.
Kerala police conducted a thorough investigation and successfully apprehended the suspects involved in the theft, including Ganesh Jha, an Indian-born Australian resident and physician, along with three women.
The uruli was stolen from an area under tight surveillance, guarded by both state police and central forces, prompting an investigation into the serious security lapse.
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, known for its immense treasures locked within its vaults, has been under a stringent five-tier security system since 2011.
The incident has raised questions about the effectiveness of these security measures, and authorities are now closely examining how the breach occurred.
The theft took a curious turn, after the primary accused, Ganesh Jha, claimed that the stolen “nivedya uruli” was not taken by force but handed over by the temple staff. However, the police are yet to officially confirm the claim.
In their statement, they insisted that their motive was not financial gain, but rather the desire to keep the uruli for personal worship in their pooja room.
Ganesh Jha, an Indian native settled in Australia, was arrested along with three women believed to be part of the same gang.
The group was apprehended in Haryana by Gurugram police, following swift coordination between local authorities.
Thiruvananthapuram Fort Police Station Circle Inspector (CI) travelled to Haryana to take the accused into custody, and they are expected to be flown back to Kerala by Sunday afternoon.
The stolen uruli was a significant item from the temple’s precious artefact collection.
Its disappearance was detected during an inventory check of the offering vessels, prompting a review of the temple’s CCTV footage.
Recordings revealed that a four-member group, who had come to visit the temple, was responsible for the theft. One of the men discreetly hid the uruli under his dhoti while walking near the thidappalli (temple kitchen) before leaving the temple premises unnoticed.
Further investigation on Friday traced the gang’s movements to Udupi, from where they boarded a flight to Haryana. The suspects were apprehended with the help of the Haryana Police.
The temple area, known for its tight security, has seen this theft become a major concern for law enforcement. Authorities are now contemplating action against the police officers on duty during the incident.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)
