A grand Jain religious congregation near the Red Fort Complex was left in shock this week when two golden kalash and other ornaments valued at nearly Rs 1.5 crore vanished from the ceremonial site, police reported on Saturday.
The theft occurred on Wednesday during the ongoing Daslakshan Mahaparv, a ten-day observance being held at the 15 August Park inside the Red Fort premises. Police confirmed that the suspect, caught on CCTV, had entered the gathering in the guise of a Jain priest before slipping away with the valuables.
The First Information Report noted the stolen objects included a golden jhari (urn) and a gold coconut weighing 760 grams, as well as a smaller 115-gram gold jhari set with rubies, emeralds and diamonds. These items, used in daily rituals, were considered sacred and were brought to the venue each day by businessman Sudhir Jain.
“The thief took advantage of the crowd. The gems are just for aesthetics. But the ‘kalash’ is linked to our sentiments. We can’t put a value on such an object,” Sudhir Jain told reporters. He added that investigators had a lead and expressed confidence that an arrest would be made soon.
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According to organisers, the valuables were last seen during preparations to welcome dignitaries. The bag containing them was discovered missing once the ceremonial activities resumed.
Puneet Jain, a relative of the family, alleged that the same individual had attempted similar thefts at three other temples in the past.
Police have assured that the suspect has been identified and will be apprehended shortly. Officers emphasised that the investigation was proceeding on priority, given both the monetary value and the religious importance of the stolen artefacts.
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