Temple theft accused, wanted across states, arrested in Delhi

New Delhi: Police have arrested a man accused of carrying out temple thefts across states. The accused, Mohit Sharma, a resident of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, has been on the run for a prolonged period and was declared a proclaimed offender by a Punjab court in connection with a temple theft case in 2024.

Investigators said Sharma was involved in multiple temple thefts across states and deliberately targeted isolated or poorly guarded shrines. He allegedly stole silver idols, donation boxes, religious ornaments and other valuables from temple premises.

To evade arrest, Sharma frequently changed hideouts and travelled across states. He was wanted in at least four major temple theft cases — two in Kerala, one in Karnataka and one in Punjab.

Investigators said the accused conducted reconnaissance of temples before striking, usually during late-night or early-morning hours. During interrogation, he told police that he learned the modus operandi of temple thefts from a man identified as Kulwant Singh while working at a dairy in his village.

A crime branch team arrested Sharma on Monday following a tip-off. Police laid a trap near Patiala House Court, where he was spotted near a school while arriving to meet an associate. On noticing the police team, he attempted to flee but was apprehended after a brief chase.

Subsequent verification confirmed that he was declared a proclaimed offender by a Punjab court on March 12 this year.

Besides the temple theft cases, Sharma is also allegedly involved in earlier cases of theft, robbery, attempted murder, violations under the Arms Act and offences under the Gangsters Act registered in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Following his arrest, he has been booked under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and will be produced before the court.

Following his arrest, he was booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and will be produced before the court.