After an intensive year-long manhunt, city police arrested 60-year-old Jeevan Singh from Pune for allegedly disguising himself as a monk and carrying out a series of burglaries at Jain temples across Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Karnataka.
Police said the accused was apprehended by a special team led by Inspector Alagammal. He was produced before a Pune court, and after obtaining a transit warrant, was brought to Chennai by train and remanded to judicial custody at Puzhal prison.
The investigation began in February 2025 following a major theft at a Jain temple on Mint Street in Sowcarpet, Chennai. A 600-gram gold bar and a 10-kg silver crown were stolen in the incident. Officials from Elephant Gate Police Station found that the suspect had covered his face with a cloth and used a torchlight to execute the burglary.
About three months ago, a similar theft was reported at a Jain temple in Kachiguda, Telangana. After local police shared CCTV footage with the Chennai team, a comparison confirmed that the same individual was involved in both crimes.
Further investigation helped authorities identify and track down the suspect. During interrogation, Jeevan Singh reportedly confessed that he used the stolen money to purchase a plot in Lonikand, Pune, where he built separate houses for his wife, son, and daughter.
Police are continuing their probe to determine whether he was involved in additional temple thefts across other states.
