MANGALURU: Mangaluru City Police have arrested four alleged members of an interstate theft gang in connection with the burglary at the Adi Killadi Kordabbu Daivasthana in Kilpady village near Mulki and recovered gold and silver ornaments and vehicles worth an estimated Rs 17.20 lakh.
The arrests have also helped police solve two other temple theft cases reported in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, according to the Mangaluru City Police Commissioner.
Police identified the accused as Zaheed Sinan, 36, from Padubidri in Udupi district; Yaseen, 36, from Karkala; Mohammed Afridi, 26, from Davanagere; and S.K. Abdul Zumman, 26.
According to police, the gang allegedly broke into the sanctum sanctorum of the Adi Killadi Kordabbu Daivasthana in Kilpady village during the intervening night of September 1 and stole idols and valuable gold ornaments before fleeing the scene.
Following the incident, Mulki police registered a case under Sections 331(3), 331(4) and 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Given the nature of the offence and the possibility of an organised gang’s involvement, police formed a special team to trace the suspects.
The investigation led police to Karnad near Mulki, where Zaheed Sinan and Yaseen were arrested on September 6. During questioning, the two allegedly provided information about their associates and the stolen property.
Acting on the information, a police team conducted an operation in Davanagere on September 7 and arrested Mohammed Afridi and S.K. Abdul Zumman.
Police subsequently took the four accused into custody for questioning. During the investigation, police recovered the valuables allegedly stolen from the temple along with vehicles suspected to have been used in the offences.
Police said they recovered around 4.521 kg of silver articles and 34.820 grams of gold ornaments. The gold and silver valuables are estimated to be worth around Rs 11.20 lakh.
Police also seized one motorcycle and one car allegedly used in connection with the offences. The vehicles are estimated to be worth approximately Rs 6 lakh. The total value of the property recovered from the accused is estimated at Rs 17.20 lakh.
Two more temple theft cases traced
The investigation into the Kilpady temple burglary reportedly opened up details of two other temple thefts in the coastal region.
According to police, investigators questioned the accused about their movements and previous offences, after which they linked them to the theft reported at Sri Mahalakshmi Mahaganapathi Temple in Kallapu, which falls under the Ullal police station limits.
Police registered the case under Crime No. 154/2026.
Police also traced the theft reported at the Vyaghra Chamundeshwari Temple in Inna village under the Padubidri police station limits in Udupi district. Police registered the case under Crime No. 88/2026.
Investigators are now examining whether the accused were involved in other similar thefts at temples and religious institutions in the coastal districts and neighbouring parts of Karnataka.
Police suspect that the gang may have targeted temples after identifying locations where valuable ornaments and other articles were kept with limited security arrangements. The investigation is expected to establish each of the four accused’s roles in the individual offences.
Zaheed Sinan has 18 theft cases, police say
Police said Zaheed Sinan, the first accused in the present case, is a habitual offender and has allegedly been involved in several theft cases across Karnataka.
According to the police, as many as 18 theft cases have already been registered against him at different police stations in Mangaluru City, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Shivamogga and Davanagere districts.
His alleged involvement across multiple districts has led investigators to examine whether the gang had been operating as an interstate or inter-district network targeting temples and other vulnerable establishments.
Police are also verifying the criminal backgrounds of the other three accused and checking whether they have previous cases registered against them in different parts of the state.
The recovery of the stolen ornaments and vehicles is being treated as a breakthrough in the investigation. Police are continuing to question the accused to gather information about other possible members of the gang, the disposal of stolen property and the locations allegedly targeted by them.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of Mangaluru North Sub-Division ACP Srikanth K. The team included Surathkal Police Inspector Pramod Kumar, Mulki Police Station PSI Raghavendra Nayak and other police personnel.
Police said further investigation is underway and additional details regarding the accused’s alleged involvement in other cases are likely to emerge during the probe.
