Pune: In a significant breakthrough, the Yerawada Police have arrested a gang responsible for stealing ₹2 lakh from the donation boxes of the historic Pandav-era Tarkeshwar Temple in Yerawada.

The theft took place on June 4, 2024, between 1:30 AM and 5:45 AM, when the thieves broke into the temple by forcing open the main door. Once inside, they broke six steel donation boxes and made off with the cash.

The police launched an extensive investigation, reviewing nearly 200 CCTV footages from Pune to Ahilyanagar. The diligent efforts paid off when the culprits were identified.

Swarup Rajesh Chopade (21) and Atharva Watkar were arrested, and ₹1.05 lakh of the stolen money, along with a stolen motorcycle used in the crime, was recovered.

The case was cracked by Police Constable Kiran Ghute, who used advanced technical analysis to track down the suspects.

Swarup Chopade was apprehended at Pune Railway Station on August 4, where he confessed to the crime and named his accomplices—Rajan Patel, Akshay Shahu, Atharva Watkar, and Amit Sheriya—all residents of Nagpur. Further investigations revealed that the motorcycle used in the heist was also stolen.

Under the guidance of Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police Vijaykumar Magar, Himmat Jadhav, Assistant Commissioner of Police Pranjali Sonawane, and Senior Police Inspector Ravindra Shelke,

the operation was carried out by Sub-Inspector Swapnil Patil, Constable Datta Shinde, Tushar Kharade, Kiran Ghute, and police officers Sagar Jagdale, Praveen Khatmode, Anil Shinde, Suraj Ombase, Dattatraya Shinde, Prashant Kamble, Sushant Bhosale, and Vitthal Ghule.