Delhi: Gold-plated ‘kalash’ worth Rs 40 lakh stolen from Jain temple in Jyoti Nagar

A gold-plated ‘kalash’ worth around Rs 40 lakh was allegedly stolen from the spire of a Jain temple in northeast Delhi’s Jyoti Nagar, police said on Saturday.

The incident comes days after a similar theft worth nearly Rs one crore was reported from a Jain religious event near the Red Fort, they added.

The entire act was captured on CCTV cameras installed at the temple, a senior police officer said, adding that the ‘kalash’ weighed around 25 to 30 kilograms of copper and gold lamination.

The theft took place late Friday night when most people in the area were busy with Karva Chauth celebrations.

“The accused scaled the roof of the temple using electric wires, reached the spire and fled after removing the gold-plated ‘kalash’,” the officer said.

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On Saturday morning, local residents noticed the missing ‘kalash’ and informed the temple management.

The temple was closed as usual on Friday night, and when it was reopened on Saturday morning, the ‘kalash’ was missing. CCTV footage showed a man loitering outside around 11.45 pm before he climbed up and allegedly took the ‘kalash’ away, he said.

A case has been registered and efforts are on to identify and trace the suspect using CCTV footage from nearby areas.

Multiple teams have been formed to nab the accused. Technical surveillance is being used to track his movement, he said.