Vijayapura: Muddebihal police have cracked the month-old theft at the historic Sri Pavada Basaveshwara Temple in Basarakod village, arresting three men from Gujarat and recovering stolen property worth Rs 52.7 lakh.The accused, identified as Sureshkumar Soni, 51, Brahmar Net, 35, and Indrajit Net, 33, allegedly stole a 32-kg silver idol worth around Rs 50 lakh from the temple on July 6. After registering a case, police launched an investigation and initially suspected local thieves.However, technical evidence soon led investigators to men from Gujarat. Police said the accused had been scouting temples online with the intention of committing thefts. While watching reels on Social media during their search, they came across information about the Pavada Basaveshwara Temple and noticed the silver idol. They then gathered more details through YouTube videos and Instagram reels before travelling to Karnataka in a car and executing the theft.“While analysing CCTV footage from nearby areas, we identified a vehicle bearing registration number GJ-01-KS-4317, which helped us trace the accused,” police said.Investigators revealed that the trio had melted the stolen idol and converted it into silver blocks. During the operation, police recovered 23 kg of solid silver, 4 kg of cut pieces of the idol, Rs 67,000 in cash, and the car used in the crime.All three accused have been remanded to judicial custody. Police said the successful recovery marked a major breakthrough in a case that had triggered concern among devotees of the centuries-old temple.
