The Kalachowkie police arrested two accused within 24 hours of a burglary at a grocery shop in Sewri, uncovering an unusual modus operandi in which the suspects would seek refuge at the Shirdi Sai Baba temple after committing thefts and donate part of the stolen money as offerings.
The burglary took place between 2 am and 7.30 am on December 8 at Nirankar General Store in Ram Tekdi, Sewri. The shop owner, Shyamsundar Sewalal Gupta (55), had closed his store around 11.30 pm and left for home. When he returned the next morning, he discovered that unknown persons had lifted the shop shutter from one side and stolen Rs33,000 in cash from the drawers.
Following the complaint, an FIR was registered at Kalachowkie police station under Sections 303(2) and 331(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against unknown persons.
During the investigation, PSI Amit Bhosale and his team conducted a detailed technical analysis. Police Constable Chavan examined footage from 50 to 70 CCTV cameras within a 500-metre radius of the crime scene, leading to the identification of two suspects seen roaming the area.
Police later learned that after committing thefts, the accused would travel to Shirdi, believing that staying at the holy site would help them evade suspicion and bring “good fortune.” Acting on this lead, police laid a trap near the Sai Sansthan Bhavan canteen area on December 9.
Police Constable Khandekar, who was already present in Shirdi, apprehended both suspects while they were taking prasad. The arrested accused were identified as Rohit Mallesh Khandagle and Aditya Ramesh Prasad, both 19 years old and residents of Parel, Mumbai.
Further investigation into their involvement in other theft cases is ongoing.
