NEW DELHI: Delhi Police has arrested a 44-year-old interstate temple robbery kingpin who specializes in stealing silver idols and donation items from shrines in several states, an officer said on Tuesday.
He said the accused, identified as Mohit Sharma alias Mama, was declared a criminal by a Punjab court in connection with a temple robbery case and was wanted in multiple cases registered in Punjab, Kerala and Karnataka.
According to police, Sharma constantly changed hideouts and traveled across states while maintaining minimal local contacts to avoid arrest.
“Sharma developed a pattern of scouting poorly guarded temples, especially those in secluded areas, before carrying out the robberies late at night or in the early morning hours,” the officer said.
The accused primarily targeted silver idols, donation boxes, religious ornaments and other valuables kept inside the temple premises. He added that Sharma was arrested after Crime Branch officers received information about his movements in Delhi.
“A trap was laid near Patiala House Court on Sunday when the accused arrived to meet one of his associates. On being spotted by the police team, Sharma tried to flee but was chased and overpowered after a short chase,” the officer said.
During interrogation, Sharma told police that he studied till Class IX and had previously worked in a dairy factory in his village, where he was in contact with a man named Kulwant Singh, who allegedly trained him to commit the temple robberies.
Sharma was then involved in several temple theft cases in different states and remained on the run for a long time, police said. He was officially arrested after completing the legal procedures.
“Sharma was wanted in a 2024 temple theft case registered at Khanna police station in Punjab. He is also allegedly involved in cases registered in Kozhikode and Ernakulam in Kerala, besides a case in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka,” the officer said.
Police records also showed Sharma’s alleged involvement in several old criminal cases, including robbery, burglary, Arms Act and Gangster Act cases registered in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.
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