Antique idol, brass items stolen from Chandni Chowk temple recovered; 2 held

Antique idol, brass items stolen from Chandni Chowk temple recovered; 2 held

New Delhi, A 45-year-old burglar and a woman have been arrested for allegedly stealing an antique Ashtadhatu idol of Lord Shani and other brass items from a 104-year-old temple in Delhi's Chandni Chowk, police said on Friday.

Antique idol, brass items stolen from Chandni Chowk temple recovered; 2 held

The accused, identified as Dilshad alias Banta, was previously involved in 15 criminal cases, including 12 burglary cases, they said.

The police said the theft took place at the Prachin Shri Shiv Nav Grah Temple in the Kotwali area during the intervening night of May 11 and 12.

According to the police, a complaint was lodged by temple priest Mukesh Sharma, who reported that an antique Ashtadhatu idol of Lord Shani and several brass articles had gone missing between 3 am and 5 am.

"A case was registered at Kotwali police station and an investigation was initiated. The case assumed significance ahead of Maha Shani Jayanti celebrations scheduled on May 16, prompting officials to prioritise the recovery of the revered idol," a police officer said.

"Through CCTV analysis and local intelligence, the suspect was identified and traced near Kalkatiya Gate close to Marghat Wale Baba Mandir," said the police officer.

Dilshad, a vagabond living near Hanuman Mandir in Yamuna Bazar, was apprehended and during interrogation disclosed the involvement of a woman receiver.

The woman was subsequently apprehended and the stolen articles were recovered from her possession. The recovered items, include the Ashtadhatu idol, one brass chhatra, a mace, a brass plate and two brass lamp stands.

The police said Dilshad was earlier involved in several burglary and theft cases registered at GTB Enclave and Seemapuri police stations. The woman was also found previously involved in a theft case registered at Kotwali police station in 2022.

Further investigation is underway.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.