Moodbidri Basadi theft case - Mastermind arrested in Andhra
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Jul 28: In a significant breakthrough in the Moodbidri Basadi idol theft case, the Mangalore police with the help of Andhra Pradesh police on Saturday July 27 arrested the prime accused from Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh.
Arrested is Santosh Das alias Ghanshyam, resident of Nayagarh district, who was absconding until now. He is said to be the mastermind behind the theft.
Bhubaneswar DCP Nitinjit Singh confirmed the arrest and said that the accused will be taken to Mangalore soon.
The police said that Das was on the run and took refuge in a number of places. The Odisha, Andhra and Chattisgarh police along with Karnataka police had kept a watch on his movements through the mobile phone tracker. He was arrested while on his way from Cuttack to Bangalore by bus.
At least 15 idols made of gold and encrusted with pearls, precious stones and diamonds were stolen on the night of July 5 from Siddanta Mandir of Basadi in Moodbidri, locally known as ‘Jain Kashi’.
On July 14, the Mangalore police with the help of Odisha police had recovered several idols from Santosh's father-in-law Digambar Mohanty's house in Bhubaneswar. The police had also seized around one kg of gold from Das’ bank locker.
The police then arrested Digambar Mohanty and Diptimayee Mohanty, wife of Santosh Das for on charges of abetment, as they had refused to divulge the whereabouts of Santosh. They were brought to Mangalore and remanded in judicial custody till July 30.