Yashodhara Bangera
Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 21: Fifteen idols of Jain Teerthankaras, which had been stolen on July 6 last year, were handed over to Sri Charukeerti Bhattaraka Swamiji at Moodbidri on Saturday December 20 by the local court on certain conditions. They had been stolen from Siddartha Darshana Mandir here. These miniature idols, which are ancient, are said to command a price of crores of rupees.

On Saturday night, these idols were brought to Jain Math premises, where ceremonial bath (Abhishekha) was performed. The Swamiji, speaking on the occasion, expressed his elation at seeing the idols back in the Math, and said he was feeling as if the god had himself come to stay. He added that arrangements will be made to keep the idols in a safe and secure place.

Out of 52 miniature idols of Teerthankaras installed in Siddartha Darshana Mandir here, 15 had been stolen. The police, who hit the trail of the thieves involved in all earnestness, had arrested a person named Santosh Das from Orissa. Three idols and golden nugget obtained by melting the idols was recvoered from his possession. The accused had informed that he had sold the other idols to a diamond merchant named Rajaji Sancheti in Durg, Chattisgarh. Sancheti was also arrested by the police thereafter.

Within a few days, all the remaining stolen idols had reached the office of the police commissioner here through a courier company. They were handed over to the court. There was confusion as to whom should these idols be handed over. The issue has ended with a happy note for the Jain Math, who have been custody of the idols subject to meeting certain conditions.