A bank employee, Abhinav Saxena, was arrested for attempting to steal Rs9.5 lakh from the famous Banke Bihari Temple in Vrindavan. The theft was discovered when Saxena was caught on CCTV while pocketing a portion of the cash offerings during the temple’s routine monthly donation counting process.
The incident occurred during a session where temple donations were being counted under the supervision of court-appointed officials. Staff grew suspicious when Saxena was seen concealing items in his clothing while handling the funds. An immediate search of his person recovered Rs1.28 lakh in stolen cash.
Upon further questioning, Saxena confessed to stealing an additional Rs8 lakh during previous donation counting sessions. Banke Bihari Temple, one of India’s most visited pilgrimage sites, receives significant cash offerings from devotees, making it a prime target for such thefts.
Temple authorities promptly filed a formal complaint, and Saxena remains in police custody as the investigation continues. Police are reviewing additional CCTV footage to confirm the full extent of the theft. The incident has prompted temple authorities to reconsider their security protocols, especially during the handling and counting of donations.
