Silver Umbrella, Idol Worth ₹3 Lakh Stolen from Umiyadham Temple in Sanand

Burglars broke into the sanctum sanctorum of the Umiyadham Temple on Sanand Bypass Road in Ahmedabad district during the early hours of Friday and stole silver religious artefacts and other valuables worth around ₹3 lakh, police said. A case has been registered against unidentified persons, and an investigation is underway.

Theft Reported After Trustees Alerted

According to Sanand Police, the theft took place between 2 am and 2.30 am on July 17 when the accused allegedly broke the lock of the temple's inner sanctum and entered the premises.

Temple trustee Kanubhai Bhikhabhai Patel (61) told police he received a phone call at around 6.10 am from fellow trustee Kamleshkumar Mangaldas Patel informing him of a suspected break-in.

Patel, along with other trustees and members of the Sanand Kadva Patidar community, rushed to the temple, where they met priest Mukundbhai Natwarlal Rawal. An inspection revealed that several sacred items had been stolen from the sanctum.

Silver Artefacts Among Items Stolen

Police said the stolen property includes a silver umbrella weighing about 2.5 to 3 kg, valued at ₹2.5 lakh, and a 500-gram silver idol worth ₹50,000.

The burglars also took away several decorative religious articles, including an imitation Bagasara crown of Lord Hanuman, an ornamental patlo (pedestal) of the goddess, two imitation earrings and an imitation anklet used to adorn the deity.

The total value of the stolen property has been estimated at around ₹3 lakh.

Donations Made by Devotees

According to the trustees, the silver umbrella and silver idol were donated by devotees around two years ago. The Umiyadham Temple has been managed by the Sanand Kadva Patidar community since it was established in 2019.

CCTV Footage Under Scanner

Sanand Police have registered a theft case against unidentified persons and launched an investigation.

Investigators are expected to examine CCTV footage from the temple and nearby establishments while collecting forensic evidence from the crime scene to identify those involved.

No arrests had been made at the time of filing this report.