Sevak held for stealing cash from donation box at Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Temple in Alandi

Pune: Alandi police on Saturday arrested a 33-year-old sevak (worker) of the Alandi Devsthan for allegedly stealing cash from the donation box at the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj temple.

Senior inspector Bhima Narke of the Alandi police said that, in his complaint, Dnyaneshwar Vir, chief manager of Shri Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sansthan, stated that, prima facie, Rs 15,000 was stolen from the donation box over three days — May 12, 13 and 16.

“During a search of accused Vishal Varule’s house, we recovered Rs 3.83 lakh. We are now investigating the source of the cash,” Narke said.

The officer said Varule had been working as a sevak at the Sansthan for the past one-and-a-half years and was assigned to the food donation (annadan) section. Since Jan this year, he has also been assisting the cashier in transferring cash from the donation boxes to the cashier’s room.

“Recently, while reviewing CCTV footage, officials of the temple’s Sansthan Committee noticed Varule putting some cash into a bag,” the officer said.

According to police, while removing cash from the donation box and placing it in a bucket, Varule allegedly hid some of the money in a bag he carried and then placed the bag inside the bucket. He would later keep the bucket in the cashier’s room and cover it with a garland.

“While leaving for home, Varule would tell the cashier that he was taking the garland with him and would take the bag along,” Narke said.

According to the complaint, Varule allegedly committed the theft over three days and may have stolen around Rs 5,000 each day.

“We have recovered Rs 3.83 lakh from his house. We are now investigating whether anyone else was involved in the crime,” Narke added.