Three arrested for theft of silver crown at Basar temple

Police have arrested three persons in connection with the theft of a silver crown and anklet from the Sri Mahankali temple at Basar's Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam. The accused allegedly targeted temples across Telangana to fund a lavish lifestyle.

Adilabad: Police cracked the mystery behind the theft of a silver crown, anklet and a mobile phone from a sub-temple at the famed Sri Gnana Saraswathi Devasthanam in Basar with the arrest of three persons. They produced the accused before the media in Basar on Thursday.

Briefing the details of the arrest, SP Dr Janaki Sharmila said that Pallapu Edukondalu from Guntur, Gaini Kiran alias Ramakrishna of Nizamabad district and Kodama Anand of Solapur in Maharashtra were arrested on charges of stealing a silver crown weighing 1.22 kg and a 260-gram anklet adorning the deity at the Sri Mahankali temple. The theft occurred on June 22.

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During interrogation, Edukondalu and Kiran confessed to committing the crime to lead a lavish lifestyle. They admitted to targeting temples located in different parts of Telangana by forming a gang. Edukondalu was allegedly involved in 20 burglaries, while Kiran was involved in 20 offences. Anand was found to have accepted the stolen property and stored it secretly.

Janaki commended Inspectors Ravinder Naik, Deepak and Sammaiah, Head Constable Khalid, Constables Bheemesh, Mohan and Narender, and CCS Head Constable Jagan Singh for swiftly solving the mystery behind the theft.