The Mulki police have arrested an accused in connection with breaking open the donation box lock and stealing money at the Sri Chandramouleshwara Temple in Kolnadu Bellayaru village under Mulki police station limits. Police recovered Rs 2,195 in stolen cash from him. The court has remanded the accused to judicial custody until September 1.
The arrested individual has been identified as Ravikumar alias Ravi H.G. (20), a resident of Ayyangeri in Madikeri taluk of Kodagu district
On the midnight of August 18, the accused entered the temple using a rope through the roof’s mesh, turned away the temple’s CCTV camera, broke open the donation box lock, and stole the cash. Afterwards, he went inside the shrine of the subsidiary deity and hid behind the murti.
Staff from the Kundapura-based Sign In Security agency, who were monitoring the live CCTV feed, noticed the accused’s movement on the temple premises and immediately alerted the police and the temple management. Rushing to the spot, the Mulki police caught the accused red-handed and recovered the stolen Rs 2,195 from him.
Police investigation revealed that 5 theft cases have already been registered against the accused at the Nelamangala Rural Police Station, along with another case at the Tirupati Police Station.
For the Sri Chandramouleshwara Temple, the swift arrest of the accused is a reminder that even with CCTV surveillance, temple security must be strengthened to protect devotees’ donations and preserve the sanctity of the shrine.
