Mumbai: Siddhivinayak temple staffer held for stealing Rs 10k from donation boxes

Police have arrested a staff member of Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak temple for allegedly stealing money from donation boxes, officials said on Sunday.

MUMBAI: Police have arrested a staff member of Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak temple for allegedly stealing money from donation boxes, officials said on Sunday.The incident surfaced on March 20 after temple authorities reviewed CCTV footage from the past 10 days at the revered Ganesha shrine in Prabhadevi, according to news agency PTI.Officials grew suspicious of the worker’s activities, prompting a closer look at the footage. The recordings allegedly showed him repeatedly removing currency notes from donation boxes. In one instance, he was seen using his fingers to extract money from a box kept inside the priest’s chamber, according to the FIR.Taking serious note of the alleged misconduct, temple authorities filed a complaint at Dadar police station.

Preliminary estimates suggest the worker may have stolen at least Rs 10,000. Police are now investigating whether the thefts had been occurring over a longer period, the total amount involved, and whether any other staff members were complicit.(With agency inputs)