• Source:JND
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Delhi Police arrested three men, including the main accused Bhushan Verma, on Monday in connection with the theft of multiple gold ‘kalash’ from a Jain religious ceremony near the Red Fort. The stolen items, worth more than Rs 1.5 crore, have also been recovered, an official said.

Joint Police Commissioner Surender Kumar said, "On September 3, a theft incident occurred in 15 August Park. During which, members of the Jain community were performing worship, and it was reported that a kalash (urn) was stolen. The Delhi Police Crime Branch took action and arrested a man named Bhushan Verma. The stolen kalash has also been recovered. Additionally, the melted gold in the possession of his two associates, Ankit and Gaurav, has been recovered. On August 7, a theft incident during the Jain community's worship in Rishabh Vihar was confessed to, and the investigation is ongoing." 

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The main accused has been identified as Bhushan Verma, a resident of Hapur. His associates, Gaurav Kumar Verma, who received the stolen items, and Ankit Patil, who acted as a mediator, were also arrested for their role in receiving and melting the stolen gold, police said.

“The man searches YouTube for religious events and knows that people use expensive utensils during these events. For this one also, he found the puja schedule and came to the event on September 1 and 2 for recce. He borrowed clothes from the worshippers and pretended to be one of them,” Kumar said.

Ref Fort Kalash Stolen Updates 

1. The incident took place on September 3 at the Jain Parv Pandal in 15 August Park near the Red Fort during the ongoing Jain Samaj’s Daslakshan Mahaparv (August 28–September 9).

2. The stolen kalash weighed about 760 grams and was studded with 115 grams of gems.

3. The theft occurred when the crowd was distracted for about an hour during Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s visit.

4. The complainant, 66-year-old Sudhir Kumar Jain, a businessman from Civil Lines, said the 10-day religious festival concluded on September 9.

5. A stage was set up for ceremonies, with only individuals in dhoti-kurta allowed to sit on it.

6. Jain told police he brought the urn from home daily for prayers, and it remained on stage until about 9:20 am on Wednesday.

7. Around 9:25 am, while the crowd was focused on the Speaker, the accused picked up the urn.

8. At 10:20 am, when Jain began wrapping up, he noticed the urn was missing and registered an e-FIR.

9. CCTV footage showed the suspect taking the urn to the kitchen area, placing it in a green-and-black cloth bag, and walking away.

10. Investigators said the accused conducted a two-day recce, mingling with worshippers to gain trust and identify security loopholes.

11. CCTV footage clearly captured his face. Using enhanced images and investigation software, police identified him along with a linked phone number.

12. Tracking the IMEI number led investigators to his current phone, confirming his identity.

13. Police found he had a criminal record, including a 2016 theft at BLK Hospital where he was caught stealing purses.

14. He was traced to Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, and arrested early Monday with UP Police assistance.

15. Investigators revealed he had committed a similar theft on August 8 at a Jain puja pandal in Rishabh Vihar under Anand Vihar police jurisdiction.

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16. After the Red Fort theft, he contacted Patil to hand over the gold utensils, which were then sold to Gaurav.

17. Molten gold was later recovered from the possession of the accused, police said.