The man had fled after stealing valuables worth Rs 8.34 lakh from Jain temple in Vile Parle; the burglary occurred at the Jain temple located inside Hemo and Elve Society on St Mary’s Road, near the post office in Vile Parle West
Sushant Niranjan Miridha. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Santacruz police have arrested a 33-year-old man from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, in connection with a burglary at a Jain temple in Vile Parle West. The accused, Sushant Niranjan Miridha, had escaped with valuables worth Rs 8.34 lakh. After examining footage from over 300 CCTV cameras, the police traced and apprehended him in Bhopal. Miridha is a resident of Shaktigarh village in Betul district of Madhya Pradesh. He is reportedly involved in multiple criminal cases across Mumbai.
Temple theft
The burglary occurred at the Jain temple located inside Hemo and Elve Society on St Mary’s Road, near the post office in Vile Parle West. Police said the incident took place late on the night of July 13, and came to light the next morning when the complainant's father Bipin Gandhi discovered the temple's wooden door open and the sliding iron gate broken. Upon inspection, it was found that several gold, silver, and panchdhatu (five-metal alloy) religious idols and ornaments were stolen.
The complainant immediately approached the Santacruz police and registered an FIR. The items stolen included idols and other ornaments, chains, and crows made of gold and silver, and brass items including decorative bowls, plates, and lamps.
Probe and arrest
Under the guidance of senior officers, including Additional Commissioner of Police Paramjit Singh Dahiya (Western Region), DCP Dikshit Gedam (Zone IX), ACP Maruti Pandit (Santacruz Division), and Senior PI Yogesh Shinde (Santacruz police station), a team was formed to crack the case. The team comprised PI Chandrakant Kamble (Crime Unit), PSI Prakash Rathod, API Sanjay Kalhatkar, and Police Constables Keni, Saldurkar, Hiremuth, Mane, and Diwanji, along with PSI Swapnil Kakade for technical support.
API Kalhatkar and his detection team analysed footage from over 300 CCTV cameras. With the help of this and tip-offs from informants, the police traced Miridha’s mobile number. Despite Miridha frequently changing SIM cards, technical analysis helped the team locate him in Chopna village from where he was arrested.
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