Kasba Ganpati Temple Theft: Pune Police Arrest Suspect Within Eight Hours
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Kasba Peth, 6th October 2026: Faraskhana police arrested a 29-year-old man within eight hours in connection with the alleged theft of an estimated ₹50,000–₹60,000 from donation boxes at the Shri Kasba Ganpati Temple in Pune’s Kasba Peth.
Police identified the arrested man as Sangram Rajendra Jadhav, a resident of Gadhinglaj in Kolhapur district.
“The accused who stole cash from the donation boxes at Shri Kasba Ganpati Temple was taken into custody within just eight hours, and the case was solved,” said Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Deshmane of Faraskhana police station.
According to police, the theft occurred between 11.30 pm on October 5 and 5.20 am on October 6. The suspect allegedly entered the temple premises, broke the latch of the sanctum and gained entry.
Police said an iron rod was used to force open four donation boxes: a wooden box inside the sanctum, two wooden boxes in front of the main sanctum and a metal box in front of the Maruti temple. Cash offered by devotees was allegedly stolen from these boxes.
After a case was registered at Faraskhana police station, investigators examined CCTV footage from roads leading to and from the temple. They scrutinised the movements of suspicious individuals during the period in which the theft occurred.
The investigation led police to Jadhav, who was taken into custody and questioned. According to the police statement, he admitted to committing the offence and was subsequently arrested.
The investigation was conducted under the guidance of Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Joint Police Commissioner Sanjay Darade, Additional Police Commissioner Rajesh Bansode, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone I) Krushikesh Rawale, and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Faraskhana Division) Sachin Hire.
The officers involved in the operation were Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Deshmane, Police Inspectors (Crime) Shivprakash Mule and Rajesh Mahala, and Police Sub-Inspectors Rajendra Patole and Pranil Chougule.
The police personnel credited with the operation were Pravin Pasalkar, Mahesh Rathod, Sumit Khutte, Prashant Palande, Shrikant Waghavle, Vishal Shinde, Vishal Auti, Nitin Telange, Gajanan Sonune, Nitin Jadhav, and Chetan Holkar. Pasalkar, Rathod, Khutte and Palande examined the CCTV footage and tracked the suspect’s movements.
