Pune: A 19-year-old boy was detained by Mumbai Railway Police for his alleged connection with a theft at the famous Sharda Ganpati temple in Mandai area of Pune. The suspect identified as Ajay Mahavir Bhuktar (Hingoli) was handed over to Pune Police on Sunday.

The police have seized jewellery worth Rs five lakh and cash worth Rs 1.5 lakh from him. Three squads of Vishrambag police and crime branch were on the trail of the suspect from Friday.

Also read: Pune: Gold ornaments stolen from Mandai Ganesh temple

Gold ornaments worth Rs 12 lakh beautifying the Ganesh idol in the Sharada Ganajan Temple in Mandai area of the city were allegedly stolen on Friday. The incident happened at around 1.30 am on Friday. The CCTV footage revealed that one person had entered the temple and fled away with the ornaments and broke the donation box. Followed by the robbery, Vishrambag police officials rushed to the spot.

Meanwhile, acting on a tip-off, a team from crime branch unit one arrested the suspect from Dagina Bazar on Sunday.

According to the police, cops patrolling the Dhanji Street Naka area of Dagina Bazar in Mumbai received the tip of the suspect in the theft case of Sharda Ganpati temple arriving in the area. Accordingly, the squad led by Senior Police Inspector Deepak Nikam arrested the suspect and later handed over to the Pune Police.