Siddantha Mandir theft case : Prime accused arrested in Bhubaneshwar

Mangalore Today News Network

Moodbidri, July 28, 2013: In a major breakthrough in the investigation into the case of the theft of the Siddantha Darshana Mandir of Moodbidri, police have arrested the prime accused in the case  Ghanshyam alias Santosh Das from Bhubaneshwar  in  Odisha. He was likely to be brought to Mangalore  on July 28, Sunday evening.

The police who had formed a special team to probe the case wherein a total of 15 antique idols worth nearly Rs 100 crore was stolen,  had been to Bhubaneshwar where they found the stolen idols in the house of Santosh Das’s uncle.  As much as 1.5 kg gold, a cash of Rs 2 lakh and 3 idols had been seized.  Police had also learnt that the accused had melted some of the idols in the form of ingots.

The stolen idols included the golden idols of Chandranatha, Pancha Parameshti, Parshwanatha,  emerald studded idol of Parshwanatha, sapphire studded idol of ‘Arihantha’, Munisuvaratha and Neminatha, crystal idol of Arhanatha Swamy, sapphire idol of Mallinatha Swami and diamond studded Chandraprabha idol.