The MHB Police have arrested a robber on Tuesday on the charges of looting valuables and cash from temples given by the devotees to it as a sign of their faith.
The accused has been identified, as Bablu Ramavadh Chavan was nabbed red handed after he had looted cash Rs. 11,500 from a 'daan peti' donation bob of the Gavdevi Mandir in Borivali on Tuesday morning when the care taker of the temple entered the temple he found the lock of the donation box broken and the cash missing. He rushed to the police station and lodged a complaint.
According to Shivaji Bodke, DCP of zone XI, the robber, a native of Uttar Pradesh has been involved in many thefts from temples in the city for the past three years. The robber has admitted that a larger gang is involved in the theft and the police suspect that this gang may be professional.
"In the wee hours of Tuesday the patrolling van of the MHB police was making rounds in the area when they spotted Chavan dragging a heavy suitcase along the road. When they stopped him and checked him they found the cash and some house breaking weapons in the bag. They immediately arrested him and while interrogating him the police found that the 23-year-old has been doing robberies only in temples," said Bodke.
{{/usCountry}}"In the wee hours of Tuesday the patrolling van of the MHB police was making rounds in the area when they spotted Chavan dragging a heavy suitcase along the road. When they stopped him and checked him they found the cash and some house breaking weapons in the bag. They immediately arrested him and while interrogating him the police found that the 23-year-old has been doing robberies only in temples," said Bodke.
{{/usCountry}}Bodke continued telling about the modus operandi of the gang, "Late night the gang enters a temple and with the help of weapons break the lock of the temple and the donation box and rob the entire amount leaving the change behind.
They also supposedly rob the jewels and the idols. We are also investing the amount, which might run in lakhs that has been robbed by the gang. The gang is involved in robbing the God's house but we are also investigating whether they have committed such thefts in the houses of humans as well," added Bodke.
The robber has been arrested on the charges of house breaking and robbery and will be presented before the court on Wednesday.
Email Megha Sood: megha.sood@hindustantimes.com