Pune, 3rd March 2026: A shocking theft has come to light in the Chinchwad area of Pimpri-Chinchwad, where a man allegedly targeted a Jain temple under the guise of religious devotion.
The incident took place at the Bhagwan Shri Adeshwar Shankheshwar Parshwanath Jain Temple, where a silver crown weighing around one kilogram was stolen from the sanctum.
According to temple authorities, the market value of the stolen crown is approximately ₹2.5 lakh. The theft has raised fresh concerns about security arrangements at religious places across the city.
The entire incident was captured on CCTV cameras installed inside the temple. The accused reportedly entered the sanctum dressed as a priest. Pretending to perform rituals and offer prayers, he cleverly placed a cloth over the crown to conceal it.
After briefly stepping out, he returned when the opportunity arose, picked up the covered crown, and fled the premises. Since he was dressed as a priest, no one initially suspected his actions.
As soon as the temple administration noticed the crown was missing, they informed the police. Taking the matter seriously, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Crime Branch Unit 1 launched an immediate investigation. Through technical analysis of the CCTV footage, police identified the suspect and laid a trap to apprehend him within 48 hours.
Police identified the accused as Naresh Agarachand Jain, who is believed to be a habitual offender. During preliminary investigation, officials found that he already has 12 criminal cases registered against him at various police stations. Authorities are now probing whether he has targeted other temples using a similar method.
Following the incident, police have issued instructions to enhance security measures at major temples and religious sites in the city. Devotees and the temple trust have appreciated the swift action taken by the police in cracking the case within two days.
