Gujarat Trio Held for Stealing Silver Idol from Historic Basaveshwara Temple After Tracking It on Social Media
Vijayapura: Vijayapura police have cracked the sensational theft of a silver idol from the historic Sri Pavada Basaveshwara Temple at Basarakod village in Muddebihal taluk, arresting three interstate burglars from Gujarat who allegedly identified the temple through social media reels and online searches before executing the crime.
The theft, which took place on July 6, had shocked devotees after a 32-kg silver idol of Basavanna, valued at nearly Rs. 50 lakh, was stolen from the centuries-old temple, renowned for its religious significance and history. After nearly a month of sustained investigation, police tracked down the accused using technical evidence and CCTV footage.
According to investigators, the accused had specifically searched Google for temples housing valuable idols. During their online search, they came across videos and reels featuring the Pavada Basaveshwara Temple. They then gathered additional information about the temple and the silver idol through YouTube and Instagram before travelling from Gujarat in a car to carry out the theft.
Initially, police suspected the involvement of local criminals. However, scrutiny of CCTV footage from areas surrounding the temple revealed the movement of a Gujarat-registered car bearing registration number GJ-01-KS-4317. This breakthrough enabled investigators to trace the suspects across state borders.
The arrested accused have been identified as Sureshkumar Soni (51), Brahmar Net (35) and Indrajit Net (33), all residents of Gujarat.
Police said the trio melted the stolen idol soon after the theft to destroy evidence and converted it into silver bars. During the operation, officers recovered 23 kg of silver bars, around 4 kg of cut pieces of the idol, Rs. 67,000 in cash and the car allegedly used in the crime. The total value of the seized property is estimated at Rs. 52.70 lakh.
Investigators said the case highlighted the increasing use of social media platforms by criminals to identify potential targets. The accused allegedly relied on publicly available videos and reels showcasing the temple and its silver idol before planning the interstate theft.
The successful investigation has drawn praise for the Vijayapura police, who relied on technical surveillance, digital evidence and interstate coordination to solve the case. The recovery of a substantial portion of the stolen silver has also brought relief to devotees of the temple.
Police are continuing their investigation to ascertain whether the accused were involved in similar temple thefts in Karnataka or other states. They are also examining whether the gang had surveyed additional temples using online platforms before selecting the Basarakod shrine as their target.