Pune: Swargate Police Nab Burglar Who Posed as Jain Devotee to Steal Ornaments
Swargate, 9th December 2024: Swargate Police Station has successfully solved a high-profile temple theft case, recovering stolen gold worth ₹4.2 lakh and arresting the accused. The theft had taken place on November 15, 2024, during the Kartik Purnima celebrations when multiple Jain temples in the city were targeted.
The incident came to light when Jay Paresh Parekh, a resident of Poonawalla Garden, filed a complaint about the theft of a gold crown and gold chain from the deity in the Jain temple at his home. On the same day, there were reports of attempted thefts at three to four other Jain temples in the Swargate Police Station, Pune City Police, limits. Recognizing the potential impact on religious sentiments, Senior Police Inspector Yuvraj Nandre immediately formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the guidance of senior officers to crack the case.
Through meticulous investigation involving technical analysis, CCTV footage review, and information gathering from Pune to Mumbai, Head Constable Sagar Kekan received a critical tip-off. The suspect was identified as Naresh Agarchand Jain, a resident of Girgaon, Mumbai. Jain had a history of similar crimes in Mumbai, Dombivli, and other areas. Acting promptly, the police team apprehended him in Girgaon on December 4.
During interrogation, Jain confessed to the theft and revealed his modus operandi of disguising himself as a Jain devotee to gain access to temples and steal ornaments. The stolen items, including the gold crown and gold chain valued at ₹4.2 lakh, were recovered from his possession.
Further investigation revealed that Jain has a criminal record spanning multiple police stations in Maharashtra and has previously committed similar burglaries at temples in Ghatkopar, Wai, Chikhali, Dombivli, and other locations.
Police Sub-Inspector Tanwade is further investigating the case.
The action was taken under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police (West Region) Pravin Patil, DCP (Zone 2) Smartana Patil and ACP (Swargate Division) Rahul Aware. The team included Senior Police Inspector, Police Inspector Yuvraj Nandre, Police Sub-Inspector Tanwade, Police personnel Dinesh Bhandurge, Shankar Sampate, Sagar Kekan, Rafiq Nadaf, Shridhar Patil, Kundan Shinde, Satish Kumbhar and Police Mitra Dinesh Parihar.
