The Vijayapura police have arrested three persons from Gujarat in connection with the theft of a 32-kg silver idol from the Sri Pavada Basaveshwara Temple at Basarakod village in Muddebihal taluk, recovering stolen property and other articles worth ₹52.7 lakh.

Addressing a press conference in Vijayapura on Thursday, Inspector-General of Police, Northern Range, Sandeep Patil said that they had recovered the stolen silver idol, which the accused had cut and melted.

The accused have been identified as Sureshkumar Shantilal Soni, 51, a native of Sirohi district in Rajasthan and resident Ahmedabad, Gujarat; Brahmar Topiya Net, 35, and Indrajit Maniyar Net, 33, both residents of Ambaji Kumbariya in Gujarat.

Briefing about the theft, Superintendent of Police of Vijayapura district Laxman Nimbaragi said that the incident was reported on July 6 after unidentified persons allegedly broke open the locks of two iron doors of the temple and entered the sanctum sanctorum between 9 p.m. on July 5 and 4.30 a.m. on July 6.

Based on the complaint filed by president of the temple committee Karanandeppa Biradar, the Muddebihal police registered a case, he said.

Mr. Nimbaragi said that four special investigation teams were constituted under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police Chandrakant Nandareddi, circle inspector Mohammed Fasiyuddin, sub-inspector (crime) Sanjay Tippareddi and sub-inspector R.S. Bhangi. The case was cracked through sustained investigation and the use of technical evidence by the special teams, he said.

The accused had reportedly told investigators that they had visited Basarakod on June 20 to conduct recce of the temple and plan the theft before carrying it out on the night of July 5, the Superintendent of Police said.

The accused had cut the main portion of the silver idol into four pieces and melted the remaining portion into silver ingots, which they had sold. The police have recovered four kg of cut pieces of the silver idol, 23 kg of melted silver ingots, ₹67,600 in cash, two mobile phones, a car allegedly used in the crime and two iron rods believed to have been used to break open the temple doors. The total value of the recovered property and seized articles is estimated at ₹52.7 lakh.

Mr. Nimbaragi said that the accused were remanded in judicial custody. As preliminary investigation had revealed involvement of others in the crime, further investigation had been taken up, he said.

On the occasion, Mr. Patil and Mr. Nimbaragi together felicitated the police officers and personnel who had successfully cracked the case.

Published - August 06, 2026 07:42 pm IST