Two Women Arrested for Stealing Panchaloha Idols from Sri Vinayaka Temple

Hyderabad: The city police have arrested two women for stealing two Panchaloha idols from the Sri Vinayaka Temple in SR Nagar. The stolen idols were swiftly recovered by the SR Nagar Police.

According to officials, the theft was first noticed by temple priest P. Naveen Kumar, who alerted Sri Salimadugu Narender Reddy, 56, Executive Officer of the Endowments Department. Reddy subsequently filed a complaint on March 8, stating that a Shiva idol and a Parvathi Devi idol were missing from the temple.

Following an investigation, the police apprehended the accused, identified as Adidala Swarna Latha, 29, and Pavani, 26—both residents of NBT Nagar, Road No. 1, Banjara Hills.

Personal Tragedy and Motive:
During interrogation, police discovered that Swarna Latha had faced multiple personal tragedies, losing several family members in recent years. Her brother Andrew passed away due to health issues, her nephew Vivek died by suicide in January 2019, and her sister’s husband, P.V. Ramana, succumbed to COVID-19 in May 2019. In the same month, her father Venkataratnam also passed away due to health complications. Additionally, her husband, Sunil Kumar, died in a road accident.

Overwhelmed by grief, she sought advice from a religious figure (Baba), who suggested that installing and worshiping divine idols could bring relief. Unable to afford idols, she began scouting temples where theft would be feasible. She then enlisted the help of her sister, Pavani, to execute the plan.

Investigation and Precautionary Measures:
The stolen idols were recovered from the possession of the accused. “Further inquiries are ongoing to determine the full extent of their involvement and whether they are linked to other similar incidents,” a police press release stated.

Authorities have urged temple managements and the public to remain vigilant against temple thefts. Police have advised the installation of security measures such as CCTV cameras, motion sensors, and alarms while also verifying staff and visitor credentials to prevent such incidents.

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