Silver idols worth ₹1 lakh stolen from Krishnanagar temple, CCTV captures suspect in chequered T-shirt

A set of nine silver idols and ornamental umbrellas, valued at ₹1.2 lakh, were allegedly stolen from a temple in Krishnanagar, Ahmedabad, prompting residents to approach the police after reviewing CCTV footage that reportedly captured the suspect entering the shrine.

As per the FIR filed at the Krishnanagar police station, the theft occurred on December 6, around 11.23 am at the Goga Maharaj temple, located within the Umiya Dham Society near Sardar Chowk. Ashokkumar Prabhudas Patel, 56, who also serves as the chairman of the housing society, stated that an unidentified man wearing a yellow-and-black chequered T-shirt and black trousers was seen carrying out the theft.

Patel, who works at a private company in Dehgam, told the police that he discovered the theft later that evening when he visited the temple for darshan and aarti. A resident, Kaushikbhai, reportedly informed him that nine silver idols of Goga Maharaj, weighing around 800 grams and worth ₹1 lakh, as well as 12 silver umbrellas weighing roughly 200 grams and worth ₹20,000, were missing from the sanctum.

Residents immediately reviewed CCTV cameras installed at the society’s entrance. The footage allegedly showed the suspect sitting inside the temple shortly before noon, removing the silver idols and umbrellas, placing them into a black bag, and walking out moments later.

Patel said that society members, after confirming the footage, approached the police on the same evening. He subsequently returned on Tuesday to formally register his complaint, naming the suspect as an “unknown thief” and requesting a full legal investigation.

The complainant has named Kaushikbhai and other society members as witnesses. A case has been registered. Police said efforts are under way to identify and trace the suspect captured in the CCTV footage.