Police have cracked the Red Fort kalash theft case, arresting a man accused of lifting a gold and gemstone-studded vessel worth nearly ₹1 crore during a Jain religious event.
Police confirmed on Monday that Bhushan Verma, who allegedly lifted the ornate vessel during a Jain religious event on 3 September, was traced to Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur and taken into custody.
The kalash, weighing 760 gm in gold and encrusted with 150 gm of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, belonged to businessman Sudhir Jain, who regularly brought it for worship. The theft unfolded even as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended the ceremony.
Closed-circuit television footage showed the suspect, dressed in a dhoti-kurta to resemble a Jain priest, walking out of the historic premises with a bag slung over his shoulder. The video, now central to the investigation, captured the entire sequence, from the act of lifting the kalash to his casual exit.
Also read: Jain treasures worth ₹1.5 crore stolen during event near Red Fort
“The stolen kalash was also recovered at his instance,” a senior officer said, adding that the accused was being brought back to Delhi for interrogation.
The Crime Branch and north district police launched a joint probe after a complaint was filed by Sudhir Jain. Punit Jain, the victim’s brother, alleged that Verma had a history of theft. “The suspect has a record of stealing,” he claimed.
According to investigators, the theft took place when the gathering’s attention was fixed on welcoming the Speaker. The recovery of the artefact has brought some relief to the Jain family, though the police are yet to determine Verma’s motive.
“The case is being probed jointly by a team from the north district and the Crime Branch. A team was dispatched to Hapur based on leads, and the accused, Bhushan Verma, was intercepted and taken into custody,” police said.
Further questioning is expected to shed light on whether Verma acted alone or was part of a larger network targeting high-value religious objects.
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