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Siddantha Mandir burglary case: Recovered idols handed over to Jain Mutt


Mangalore Today News Network

Moodbidri, Dec 21, 2014: As many as 15 antique idols worth  several crores of rupees which were stolen from the Siddantha Darshana Mandir of Moodbidri on July 6 last year,  have been entrusted to the custody of Sri Charukeerthi Bhattaraka Swamiji of Jain Mutt on December 20 Saturday by the Moodbidri Court subject to certain conditions. Here it is worth mentioning that if some of the stolen idols were recovered by the police,  a few more had arrived by courier  to the Mangaluru Police Commissioner’s office.

 

Siddantha Darshana Mandir of Moodbidri


The idols which were brought to the Jain Mutt on Saturday night were offered special Abhisheka. The seer said he was extremely happy that the idols are back and assured  that they would be kept in a secure place.

Of the total 52 idols of Theerthankaras in the Mandir, 15 idols embedded with gems and precious stones  had been stolen. Three of the idols were seized from the residence of prime accused Santosh Das in Bhubaneshwar. Some gold ingots had also been seized.  Consequent upon the arrest of Santosh Das, his father-in-law and wife, police also arrested diamond merchant of Chattisgarh Rajaji Sanchethi.

Meanwhile, in another development, the stolen idols had arrived at the Police Commissioner’s office  by courier and were later produced before the court.Though there was some dispute over the custody of the idols, the case now stands settled with the idols entrusted to the custody of the Jain Mutt.