In a bizarre case that has left locals both baffled and bemused, a man was caught on CCTV stealing a donation box from a temple—but not before respectfully performing a namaste and bowing at the shrine.
The incident occurred at Khakhiji Maharaj Temple in Govindpura, under the Harmara police station jurisdiction, around 2 a.m. on July 20. The suspect, Dharmesh Bhopa, also known as Bhairu Nayak (22), was seen washing his hands and offering a prayer before committing the theft.
“In all my years, I haven’t seen a thief take such care to honor temple customs before robbing it,” said a police officer involved in the investigation.
Acting on a complaint by local resident Govind Sharan, police swiftly identified Bhopa with the help of CCTV footage. He and his accomplice, Rambabu Nayak (26), were arrested on Monday. Both are residents of Benar, Harmara, and used a motorcycle—now seized—for the crime.
Station House Officer Uday Bhan confirmed that the donation box contained several thousand rupees. Investigations are underway to determine whether the duo is involved in other temple thefts, a growing concern across Jaipur.
The peculiar mix of devotion and delinquency has added a strange twist to an otherwise troubling rise in religious institution thefts. Police are urging temples to strengthen their security systems, including better surveillance and alarm mechanisms.
