Uchila Temple jewel thief arrested by Padubidri cops

Uchila Temple jewel thief arrested by Padubidri cops

Mangalore Today News Network

Padubidri, April 10, 2014 :  Padubidri police have arrested the prime accused in the case of the missing jewels worth lakhs of rupees belonging to the Uchila Mahalingeshwara Temple.

The accused  U Ganesh Bhat was arrested on April 9, Wednesday  morning from his sister’s residence at Boluvar in Puttur. Gold ornaments weighing 472 grams and silver ornaments weighing 89 grams have been seized from the accused. He has been produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody.

It is learnt he has confessed to the police that he had  given  the stolen jewels from the temple to one Nagaraj Bhat for repair and that the latter did not return them. He further said he  had still managed to secure a few of the ornaments. Police said only half of the missing jewels have been traced as of now.

It is learnt, Ganesh had changed  his mobile number thrice  making it difficult for the police to track him down.

There is information that there has been no audit of the temple jewels  since 2002. It is said police have some problems in registering case against the accused as there is no proper documentation or records regarding the temple jewels.