Theft in Navi Mumbai temple: Cash of Rs 49,000 stolen

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A theft in Navi Mumbai temple was reported on Tuesday. Police said that some miscreants allegedly stole Rs 49,000 from the donation box of a temple at Rabale in Navi Mumbai.

The theft occurred during the intervening night of February 19 and 20 at Chavanda Aai Gamdevi temple near Rabale lake, newswire PTI reported quoting the police. "Unidentified persons entered the temple by breaking the window grill and stole Rs 49,000 kept in the cash box. Police are investigating the case and no arrest has been made yet," the police office said.

A case under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 380 (theft) and 457 (lurking house-trespass or house-breaking) was registered based on a complaint lodged by the temple priest at the Rabale MIDC police station, he said. Efforts were on to identify and apprehend the accused, he added.

Meanwhile, two individuals were apprehended by BKC police on suspicion of collusion with Mehul Zaveri, a Juhu-based diamond broker arrested for defrauding diamond traders. Police suspect the extent of fraud could be much larger. "He has swindled diamonds worth Rs 7.50 crore, we suspect that the amount would increase if people come forward," said an officer on condition of anonymity.

"On Sunday, we arrested two alleged accused as we suspect that they helped Zaveri. We are yet to recover the diamonds. Further investigation is underway to determine if anyone else is involved in the case," said an officer. As per the police, the location of the arrest has been kept secret and the arrest had been made in a secretive manner as they suspect that the trio have the diamonds in their possession.

The police on Sunday had arrested Dinesh Bhalse alias Jay, "Mehul Zaveri and Dinesh Bhalse knew each other. According to the complainant, Mehul was accompanied by Dinesh and they both had convinced him to give the diamonds in exchange for a promissory note," said the police officer. "We suspect that all three are involved in the fraud case. Zaveri lured the diamond traders to give their diamonds and then Halde and Bhalse sold the diamonds or kept them under their possession. The trio have been granted police custody up to February 22," the officer added.

"Bhalse used to roam around with Zaveri in jewellery shops to lure jewellers and then dupe diamonds. They both knew each other for a very long time and were associated with each other," the officer explained. The matter had come to light when a group of 25 diamond jewellers had approached the BKC police station to register a complaint against Mehul Zaveri. The police then recorded the statements of the jewellers and registered an FIR against Zaveri on February 14.

According to the FIR, Mehul Zaveri had lured jewellery owners to give diamonds to him in exchange for a promissory note, however, he allegedly turned incommunicado and never returned the diamonds. Mehul Zaveri was booked under Sections 409 (Criminal breach of trust) and 420 (Cheating) of the IPC. (With inputs from PTI)