Three men have been arrested for allegedly stealing three ‘kalash’ (sacred pots) made of gold and worth Rs 1.5 crore from a religious event near Red Fort here, police said on Monday.
The police identified the main accused as Bhushan Verma, who was held from Hapur in Uttar Pradesh on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. One golden kalash and 150 grams of melted gold was seized from his possession.
“The incident took place on September 3 during the ongoing Daslakshan Mahaparv at August 15 Park, where a series of rituals had been underway since August 28. The event is scheduled to conclude on September 9,” Surendra Chaudhary, Joint Commissioner of Police, said.
Chaudhary, in his statement, said Verma, along with his associates Ankit and Gaurav, has been arrested.
The North District Police and the Crime Branch carried out a joint investigation. Acting on technical surveillance and gathered leads, a team tracked down Verma in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, and later arrested his two accomplices.
“The team has recovered one intact ‘kalash,’ along with nearly 150 grams of melted gold seized from the other accused,” Chaudhary said while addressing a press conference.
Verma had conducted a detailed reconnaissance of the venue for two days ahead of the theft. Disguised in traditional attire, he blended in with the devotees and even positioned himself on the stage where the kalash was kept.
When the gathering’s attention was diverted towards welcoming Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who was attending the event on September 3, the accused, seizing the right moment, committed the crime, the investigators said.
A complaint was registered by Sudhir Jain, who is a Civil Lines-based businessman, in this case, who told police he carried the ‘kalash’ daily for the rituals.
“As part of the inquiry, the officers said that the CCTV footage from the venue, along with the trail of an active mobile number linked to a payment system account, helped crack the case,” the officer added.
On August 7, Verma had also stolen another gold urn weighing about 40 grams. Police said he took advantage of security gaps, executed the theft with careful planning, and intended to dispose of the gold by melting it, the officer added.