Pune: The Alandi police on Saturday arrested a 33-year-old sevak (worker) of the Alandi Devsthan for allegedly stealing cash from the donation box at the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj temple. The accused, identified as Vishal Varule, had been employed at the Sansthan for the past one-and-a-half years.
Complaint and Investigation
Senior inspector Bhima Narke of the Alandi police stated that Dnyaneshwar Vir, chief manager of Shri Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sansthan, filed a complaint alleging that approximately Rs 15,000 was stolen from the donation box over three days—May 12, 13, and 16. During a search of Varule's residence, law enforcement officials recovered Rs 3.83 lakh. The police are now investigating the source of the recovered cash.
Modus Operandi
According to the police, Varule was assigned to the food donation (annadan) section. Since January this year, he had been assisting the cashier in transferring cash from the donation boxes to the cashier's room. While reviewing CCTV footage, officials of the temple's Sansthan Committee noticed Varule placing some cash into a bag. The accused allegedly hid money in a bag he carried while removing cash from the donation box and placing it in a bucket. He would then place the bag inside the bucket and later keep the bucket in the cashier's room, covering it with a garland. Upon leaving for home, Varule would inform the cashier that he was taking the garland and would take the bag along with him.
The complaint indicates that Varule may have stolen around Rs 5,000 each day over the three-day period. The police are now investigating whether any other individuals were involved in the crime. The recovery of Rs 3.83 lakh from his house has raised further questions about the scale of the theft.
