Man Arrested For Stealing Temple Donation Box In Pune’s Mukund Nagar; Over Rs 38,000 Recovered; Investigation Underway
Swargate, 31st May 2025: A 42-year-old man has been arrested by Swargate Police for allegedly stealing cash from the donation box (Danpeti) of Suryamukhi Chandni Amba Mata Temple located in the Mukund Nagar area of Pune. The theft, which occurred on 23rd May in the early morning hours, was captured on CCTV, aiding the police in identifying the suspect.
According to the information given by the police, the accused, Mahadev Tukaram Giramkar, broke into the temple around 4:30 am by forcing open the main door. He then stole a significant amount of cash from the temple’s donation box. Following a formal complaint filed by the temple committee, a case was registered at the Swargate Police Station, and a search for the thief began based on CCTV footage obtained from the scene.
On the morning of Friday (30th May), around 10:00 am, police officers spotted a man resembling the suspect near the Swargate Bus Stand. When questioned, he was seen suspiciously hiding a bag behind him. Upon checking the bag, police found ₹38,400 in cash along with burglary tools, including an iron hammer, scissors, a screwdriver, and two axes.
The suspect was immediately detained and brought to Swargate Police Station along with the recovered items. During interrogation, Girmkar confessed to breaking into the temple the previous week and stealing the donation money. The police confirmed that all tools used in the crime were seized, and the accused has been officially charged.
Swargate Police are continuing further investigation into whether the accused is connected to any similar incidents in the area.
