In a significant security breach, two golden ‘kalash’ (urns) and other valuables worth about Rs 1.5 crore were stolen during a Jain religious event at the Red Fort in Delhi. The thief disguised himself as a Jain priest and took the valuables, as seen in CCTV footage. The police have identified the suspect and assured that he will be arrested soon.
760 grams gold, 1 crore kalash, 115 gram gold Jhari stolen from Red Fort
The stolen items included a golden ‘jhari’ (urn) and a gold coconut weighing around 760 grams, as well as a smaller 115-gram gold ‘jhari’ that was studded with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. The FIR stated that these items are used in Jain rituals and are considered sacred.
These valuables belonged to businessman Sudhir Jain, who brought them daily for rituals. The theft happened on Wednesday during the ‘Daslakshan Mahaparv,’ a ten-day religious event taking place at the 15 August Park within the Red Fort. CCTV footage showed the suspect, disguised as a Jain priest, leaving with a bag that likely contained the stolen items.
Items stolen from Stage during ceremonial Jain activities
The items were noticed missing from the stage when the ceremonial activities resumed at Red Fort. “The thief took advantage of the crowd. The gems are just for looks. But the ‘kalash’ is connected to our feelings. We can’t assign a price to such an object,” Sudhir Jain told reporters. He added that the police have a lead and will arrest the suspect soon.
Puneet Jain, a relative of Sudhir Jain, claimed that the thief had attempted similar thefts at three temples before. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was a special guest at the Jain event on Tuesday. The event will continue until September 9.
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