Idol of Shri Matoba Maharaj and Donation Box Stolen from the Temple

A general strike has been called in the city till the thieves are found

Lasalgaon (District Nashik) – Shri Matoba Maharaj Temple is a place of worship for millions of devotees, and Shri Matoba Maharaj is the worshipped Deity of the people of Naitale. Two silver idols weighing three kilos and a donation box have been stolen from this temple by unidentified thieves on the night of 04.12.2025 at 1.49 a.m., which was captured on CCTV. This incident has created fury amongst the locals, and they have voluntarily decided to observe ‘Bandha’ in Naitale town until the culprits are found. (Editorial Perspective: Why does such a decision have to be taken? The Police Administration should take prompt action. The shrine’s president, Namdev Borgude, went to the Niphad Police Station to register a complaint.

1. There is a temple of Shri Matoba Maharaj at Naitale (Tal Niphad), which is a place of worship for millions of devotees, including the locals. Every year, a 15-day festival is held here around ‘Pausha Pournima’. Thousands of devotees visit this temple during this festival and pay obeisance to Shri Matoba Maharaj.

2. The priest informed the Shrine Trust’s President, Namdev Borgude and the board of trustees as he observed the theft in the temple. On getting the information, MLA Dilip Bankar, NCP’s Taluka-president Rajendra Dokhale, Sagar Patil Kunde, Tehsildar Vishal Naikwade, Talathi Shankar Khandagale, ‘Gramvikas’ officer Ujwala Bhoir visited the place of the incident and contacted the Niphad Police. They demanded that the matter be promptly investigated and that solace be given to the devotees and locals.

3. The empty donation box was found in the well on the farm of Govindrao Bhawar in Group No. 163 near Naitale.

The locals are enraged due to the theft of the idol of Shri Matoba Maharaj, the worshipped Deity of the people of Naitale; however, they have maintained peace and order in the town and surrounding areas. All traders have spontaneously decided to observe ‘Bandh’ in the town and condemned the incident. – Mr Rajendra Borgude, Director, ‘Lasalgaon Krushi Utpanna Bazar Samiti’