Vagabond Caught Stealing Temple Idols

Delhi Police said on May 15 that officers had arrested two people after an antique Ashtadhatu idol of Lord Shani and other brass items were stolen from a 104-year-old temple in Chandni Chowk. Police said the theft took place at Shani Mandir in Katra Lehswan, in the old market area of north Delhi. Officers recovered the idol and the other stolen items, according to police and local media reports. The arrests followed a complaint from the temple side and a review of CCTV footage from the area. ### Who did police arrest in the Chandni Chowk temple theft? Delhi Police identified the main accused as Dilshad, 45, also known as Banta, a resident of Yamuna Bazar. Police said a second accused, Geeta Kumari, who works in the scrap trade with her husband in Chandni Chowk, was also arrested in the case. (hindustantimes.com) Police said Dilshad had been involved in 15 previous criminal cases. The force said the second arrest was tied to the alleged sale or handling of the stolen temple property after the theft. ### What exactly was stolen from the temple? Police and local reports said the stolen property included an antique Ashtadhatu idol of Lord Shani and other brass items kept at the temple. (tribuneindia.com) The temple was identified as Shri Shiv Nav Grah Mandir near Gate No. 5 of Chandni Chowk Metro station in one local report, while police statements carried by other outlets referred to the site as Shani Mandir in Katra Lehswan. (devdiscourse.com) Navbharat Times reported that the idol had been installed about 15 years ago and had been made in Moradabad for about 100,000 rupees. That report said the temple dated to 1920, which aligns with police descriptions of the site as 104 years old. (navbharattimes.indiatimes.com) ### When and how did the theft happen? The theft took place during the night of May 11-12, according to Navbharat Times. That report said the suspect climbed a wall, entered the temple compound, broke the lock and removed the idol. CCTV footage captured the suspect at about 3:30 a.m., the report said. (navbharattimes.indiatimes.com) Police said the investigation relied on CCTV review and local intelligence after the complaint was filed. By May 15, officers said they had solved the case and recovered all the stolen property. ### Why was a scrap dealer named in the case? (navbharattimes.indiatimes.com) The Tribune, citing police, reported that Geeta Kumari worked as a scrap dealer with her husband in Chandni Chowk and was arrested along with Dilshad. Police said the case involved not only the theft of the idol but also its sale or disposal through the local scrap trade. (hindustantimes.com) Rediff, citing PTI, reported that police had apprehended two suspects involved in the theft and recovery operation. That account also said all the stolen items were recovered. ### What happens next in the case? Kotwali police are handling the case in Chandni Chowk, according to the reports on the arrests and recovery. (tribuneindia.com) Police said the accused had been apprehended and the stolen property seized, which means the next steps are the filing and processing of charges through the local criminal justice system. (rediff.com) May 15 was the date police publicly detailed the arrests, the identities of the accused and the recovery of the idol. Any court production, remand proceedings or charge-sheet filing would be expected to flow from that arrest action by the Chandni Chowk police unit. (hindustantimes.com)