A shocking incident has taken place in Delhi’s Jyoti Nagar area, where a gold-plated kalash (sacred urn) worth a staggering ₹40 lakh was stolen from the spire of a Jain temple. The theft, which occurred on Friday night or early Saturday morning, has been caught on the temple’s CCTV cameras. Videos of the alleged thief climbing down a pole and making off with the ornate urn have surfaced online, causing significant concern.
The timing of the theft coincided with the Karva Chauth festivities, a period when many residents were occupied with celebrations. Authorities report that the stolen kalash is made of ‘asth-dhatu‘ – an auspicious alloy of eight metals – and was installed atop the temple several years ago. It contains approximately 200 grams of gold, contributing to its immense value.
Temple authorities were alerted to the missing kalash on Saturday morning by a staff member. The temple committee president, Neeraj Jain, has filed a police report, and an investigation is underway. Special teams have been formed, and technical surveillance is being employed to track the culprit’s movements.
This incident marks the second theft of Jain ceremonial items in recent months, highlighting growing security concerns for religious sites. The Jain community has expressed deep distress over the incident. Priyank Jain, vice president of the Jyoti Nagar Jain Temple, stated that the community desires enhanced security to ensure devotees can worship peacefully. He added that the police have assured them of prompt recovery of the stolen kalash.
Rajesh Jain, a former president of the temple, confirmed that senior police officials are personally overseeing the investigation, emphasizing the spiritual significance of the kalash for the community. The police are confident that the case will be solved soon.