Mangalore, Jul 30: The main accused in the biggest temple heist in the state, Ghanshyam alias Santhosh Das was brought to Dakshina Kannada and produced before the court here on Monday. He has been remanded to police custody for 11 days.
The kingpin of the Moddbidri Basadi theft case was arrested at Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh three days ago, by a special team constituted to nab him. During the 11 days' time, the team will conduct a thorough investigation of the case and obtain complete information and clues related to it from the accused.
It was divulged that the arrested kingpin also confessed to his involvement in Kodyadka temple theft and other thefts at Udupi and Karkala.
Santhosh Das is also said to have revealed most details of the major heist he conducted in Moodabidri Siddantha Darshana Mandir in which priceless antique idols and other valuables were stolen.
Tracing the accused to Bhubaneshwar in Odisha, the special police team cracked the case. Although Santhosh Das had been absconding, he was later traced through his new mobile number based on information eked out from Santhosh's younger brother on interrogation.
It can be recalled that police had earlier arrested Santhosh's wife Diptimayee and her father Digambar in connection with their involvement in the theft case.
Santhosh is said to have revealed how he gained entry into the Basadi using a gas-cutter, and stole antique idols worth crores of rupees without triggering the alarm. After the heist, Santhosh had stored the idols at his father-in-law Digambar's house, and had been absconding since.
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