Mumbai Police arrested eight Siddhivinayak Temple staff for stealing donation money over two months from hundi boxes.
Accused Rajendra Pendurkar, Sharad Ghadi, Sameer Shivalakar, Arvind Kadge, Anil Rahate, Padmakar Aadkar, Abhishek Mulik, and Mahendra Bhaije quietly removed notes while shifting boxes between rooms. Rs 80,000 recovered so far.
Workers used fingers to extract cash, avoiding detection during routine movements. Theft continued undetected until the temple trust reviewed footage and filed an FIR on March 21.
Siddhivinayak receives crores in donations daily from Bappa’s global bhaktas. Internal theft wounds countless Hindu sentiments, expecting sacred offerings to reach Ganapati’s service.
Some are in police custody, others are in judicial custody. Probe examines wider network and total amount stolen. Temple authorities promise stricter protocols protecting donation sanctity.
