Gold 'Kalash' Theft at Jain Festival Near Red Fort Solved

New Delhi, Sep 8 (PTI) Police have successfully apprehended a suspect involved in the theft of a valued gold 'kalash' during a religious ceremony held near the Red Fort. The individual, identified as Bhushan Verma, was captured in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh. The stolen 'kalash', composed of 760 grams of gold and adorned with 150 grams of diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, is valued at approximately Rs 1 crore.

The apparent theft occurred during a Jain religious festival at August 15 Park on September 3. A joint investigation team from the north district police and the Crime Branch was formed to solve the case. Acting on leads, they dispatched a team to Hapur, where Verma was intercepted and detained. The recovery of the 'kalash' was made following Verma’s apprehension, according to a senior police officer.

The suspect is now being transported to Delhi for further interrogation to uncover more details about his background, possible accomplices, and the motive behind the theft. The initial complaint was lodged by Sudhir Jain, a businessman residing in Civil Lines, who described how he brought the 'kalash' daily for rituals, as the event spanned from August 28 to September 9.

Reports reveal that Verma seized the opportunity to commit the theft when attendees were occupied with the reception of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Preliminary investigations suggest that the suspect had been visiting the venue for several days, conducting reconnaissance while cleverly blending in by wearing traditional attire and associating with the organizers to gain access to the stage where the 'kalash' was prominently displayed.