In a major breakthrough in a Rs78 lakh jewellery theft case, Vidur Vasava, a resident of Umarpada in Surat, was arrested for stealing gold necklaces and gilded crowns from the Pavagadh temple in Panchmahal district. The theft occurred on October 27, when Vasava allegedly entered the sanctum sanctorum (garbhgriha) of the temple and made away with six gold necklaces and two gold-gilded crowns.
The suspect borrowed his brother-in-law’s motorcycle and managed to distract the security guard before sneaking into the temple through an open ventilation. After stealing the jewellery, Vasava hid the loot in a wooden box in the cabin of a truck, before returning to his hometown.
The Panchmahal police initiated an investigation after receiving a complaint from the temple trust, and with the help of the trust, they reviewed CCTV footage from around the temple. A thorough review of 150 CCTV cameras surrounding the temple revealed a suspicious individual riding a motorcycle and engaging in odd behavior at the temple on the day of the theft.
The police identified the suspect as Vidur Vasava after further analysis of the footage and gathered intelligence. Vasava was later apprehended in Surat, and upon interrogation, he confessed to the crime. The stolen jewellery was recovered from him, and further investigations are ongoing.
This arrest marks a significant development in the case, and the police are continuing their efforts to investigate the full extent of the theft and any potential accomplices involved.
