A man employed on a temporary basis at the famous Shri Naina Devi Temple in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh was caught red-handed stealing cash from the donation box during the ongoing Chaitra Navratri festival.
The accused, identified as Dharampal, was apprehended while attempting to pocket ₹1,500 and 100 Australian dollars from the temple’s offerings.
Theft caught on CCTV cameras
The incident occurred during the routine counting of donations in the temple’s counting room.
Neelan Puri, another temple staff member, noticed Dharampal’s suspicious actions and immediately alerted the authorities.
A search revealed the stolen cash in his possession. The entire episode was captured on the temple’s CCTV cameras, providing clear evidence of the crime.
Following a complaint by Puneet Kumar, a clerk of the temple trust, the Naina Devi police registered a case under Section 305 (E) of the BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita).
DSP Bilaspur Madan Dhiman confirmed that the accused was a temporary worker hired specifically for Navratri to assist in counting donations.
Temple trust tightens security after theft
During Navratri, thousands of devotees visit Shri Naina Devi Temple, offering generous donations to the goddess. The temple trust employs temporary staff to manage the counting process under the supervision of permanent employees.
The authorities have assured devotees that additional security measures were being implemented to prevent such incidents in the future. The accused is currently under investigation and further legal action was underway, said the police.
Sunil chadha
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