Delhi Temple Theft: Silver ‘Pitra’ Worth ₹25 Lakh Stolen After Perpetrator Performs Ritual Bow

New Delhi: In a shocking incident in East Delhi’s Nirman Vihar area, thieves stole a silver “patra” weighing over 6.5 kg, valued at approximately ₹25 lakh, from the Sanatan Temple last night. The sacred item, placed on the Shiva Lingam, was taken after one of the culprits performed a ritual bow (charan sparsh) in front of it, CCTV footage reveals.

Breaking into the Temple
According to temple priest Dinesh Shastri, the thieves broke the locks of both the main gate and the inner gate where the Shiva Lingam is installed. “I lock the gates and sleep inside the temple premises. This morning I discovered that the silver patra had vanished from the Shiva Lingam,” Shastri told reporters.

CCTV Footage Reveals the Crime
CCTV recordings show two men entering the temple wearing slippers. One of them can be seen performing charan sparsh—touching the ground near the Shiva Lingam and then his forehead—before committing the theft, while the other culprit obstructs the camera’s view. Once the camera was blocked, the remaining actions were not visible. The theft was discovered the following morning, and the priest immediately informed the police control room.

Police Investigation Underway
The Preet Vihar police, along with the Crime and FSL team, visited the scene to collect evidence and recorded statements. A case is now being registered, and the investigation is ongoing.