Moodbidri Basadi theft: Prime accused Ghanshyam nabbed

July 28, 2013

Moodbidri, Jul 28: The prime accused in the Moodbidri Basadi statue theft case, which has been billed as the biggest temple theft in the State, has been nabbed by the police, from Bhuvaneshwar in Odisha. The arrested is Ghanshyam alias Santhosh Das.

There are all possibilities of Das being brought to Mangalore on Sunday evening.

A special team was constituted to nab Das, who was the kingpin of the perfect robbery involving valuable statues from historic place of worship.

Tracing the case, Mangalore police reached Odisha. The police learnt that the valuable antique commodities stolen from Moodabidri Siddantha Darshana Mandir was stocked in a house in Bhuvaneshwar.

The cops successfully recovered the antique valuables from Das's uncle's house.

During the raid, the police also seized 1.5 kg gold, Rs 2 lac in cash and three idols. It was found that some idols were already melted and the culprits and stocked the gold from the idols in the form of biscuits.

The robbers had stolen 15 antique idols out of 52 idols from the said Basadi.

Golden idols of Chandranatha, Pancha Parameshti, Parshwanatha, emerald studded idol of Parshwanatha, 'Gajamuthina Chandraprabha', gold rings, small idol of Mahaveera, ruby studded idol of 'Vasupujya', sapphire studded idol of 'Arihantha', Munisuvaratha and Neminatha , idol of Bahubali with pearl arc, crystal idol of Arhanatha Swamy, sapphire idol of Mallinatha Swami, Crystal idol of Manusuvaratha Swami and diamond studded Chandraprabha idols were stolen by the gang.

Since all the idols were antique, the value of the same was estimated around Rs 100 cr.

The stolen idols also included a rare idols of Bahubali in seating position. It is said that there is no other idol of this kind anywhere in the world.

People belonging to Jain community only could even have a look at this idol. Clicking pictures of this idol too was prohibited.

The gang which executed the theft had used gas cutter to gain entry into the Basadi. Before the theft, the gang has disconnected the connection of 8 CCTV cameras installed in the Basadi. Though a siren was installed in the Basadi, when the gang gained entry, the siren too did not ring. This suggests that the gang had planned the theft strategically.

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‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

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