Mumbai Jain temple theft: Thief turned off CCTVs to steal gold strips

The thefts occurred in the Jain temple located on Jain Patan Mandal Marg ChurchgateDivine justice has been delivered to the perpetrator of multiple burglaries of diamondstudded gold strips at a Jain temple in south Mumbai The Crime Branch have arrested Akram Gayauddin Ansari a 20yearold CCTV technician who committed both the thefts by switching off the temples CCTV system One Zakir Jamal Jalaal Jamadar has also been arrested as Ansari had given him the ornaments for saleThe first of the two thefts occurred in February while another one took place on April 27 Both the times the CCTV in the temple and the building had been turned off midday reported on the April 27 burglary in the May 2 report Diamondstudded gold strips stolen from Jain temple The priest of the temple located between building 77 and 78 on Jain Patan Mandal Marg in Churchgate discovered three diamondstudded golden plates ndash worth Rs 75000 each ndash placed on the forehead of three idols were missing A case was registered at Marine Drive Police station against an unknown personShortlist of suspectsThe Crime Branchs Unit 1 was carrying out a parallel inquiry into the theft We made a list of all persons who visited the building except residents Around 25 to 28 persons were shortlisted During their inquiry we found that no outsider had visited the building said a crime branch officer adding Those who visited were either maids or frequent visitorsAlso read Mumbai Crime Diamondstudded gold strips stolen from Jain temple at Marine DriveDuring investigation a person told the cops that at the time of the first theft Ansari was present at the temple since the CCTV system was not workingWe got this input and started questioning Ansari During inquiry he said he was called to set up a new CCTV camera and check if it was working We again started probing him and thats when he confessed to stealing the diamondstudded gold plates from the temples both the times said another officerTiming the theftAnsari told cops He knew the temple remains closed for hour or two In the last week of February when he was carrying out maintenance work he sneaked into the temple and stolen the plates While leaving he switched on the system and left He sold these plates to someone Then he got to know that the residents had made new stripsAlso read Idols donation box stolen from Jain temple in MumbaiOn April 27 he made up his mind to steal the new ones He came to the temple and waited till the priests left for their afternoon nap He then switched off the system stole the plates and left He gave the plates to Jamadar for sale Both of them were arrested on SundayIn police custodyWe dont know how much money Akram got from selling these plates We have to investigate it said an officer from Marine Drive police station to whom crime branch handed over Akram and ZakirAlso read Mathura Ahmedabad women gangs come to Siddhivinayak just to rob devoteesThe two have been booked Sections 379 theft and 34 common intention of the Indian Penal Code and produced in court after which they were remanded in police custody till June 9Rs 75k Price of each of the stolen diamond strips