Pune Police Arrest Man Within 8 Hours in Kasba Ganpati Temple Theft

Pune police arrested Sangram Rajendra Shinde, 29, a resident of Gadhinglaj in Kolhapur district, within eight hours of a theft at the historic Shri Kasba Ganpati Temple. The theft occurred between 11:30 pm on October 5 and 5:20 am on October 6. Police said Shinde broke the latch of the sanctum sanctorum and used an iron rod to break open multiple donation boxes, stealing approximately ₹50,000 to ₹60,000.

Faraskhana Police examined CCTV footage from the temple and surrounding roads to track movements in the area during the theft. Based on CCTV analysis, Shinde was detained and later confessed to the crime. He broke one wooden donation box inside the sanctum, two wooden boxes outside it, and a tin box near the Maruti Temple.

A case was registered under Sections 305(d) and 324(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The investigation, conducted under the guidance of senior police officials, also examined temple security and whether others were involved in the theft.