Money stolen from the donation box at Saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Temple in Alandi

• Temple servant arrested

• Accused of stealing ₹15,000

Alandi (Pune, Maharashtra) – Vishal Balu Varule, a temple servant, was arrested by the Alandi Police in connection with the theft of money from the donation box of Saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Temple. The incident took place between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on May 12^th, 13^th and 16^th. Dnyaneshwar Veer, the manager of ‘Shri Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Sansthan’, filed a complaint with the Alandi Police station in this regard.

1. Vishal was responsible for collecting the money from the donation box in the temple and depositing it with the cashier.

2. While returning the money from the donation box, Vishal slipped some of the money into his own bag, avoiding the attention of the security guard and others.

3. Vishal would go to the place where the garlands were kept in the temple premises and pretend to take the money from there to the cashier to deposit.

4. CCTV and preliminary investigation revealed that Vishal had embezzled ₹5,000 each for 3 days, totaling ₹15,000.

Editorial Perspective

• If the temple servants are the ones stealing, how will the temple be safe? The fact that the temple servants do not have education on Dharma and are unaware that 'stealing from the temple is a mahapatak (grave sin)' shows the plight of Hindus!
• This incident shows the temple management should at least provide education on Dharma to the temple servants.