New Delhi, May 16: The Delhi Police swiftly resolved the case of a stolen ancient idol of Lord Shani, which was taken from the Shani temple in Chandni Chowk. Within just two days, authorities arrested two suspects and recovered all stolen items.
According to a press release issued by the police on Friday, the ancient idol made of Ashtadhatu is valued at approximately 5 to 6 lakh rupees. The investigation involved analyzing footage from over 300 CCTV cameras, which helped identify the main suspect.
The incident came to light on May 12, 2026, when the temple priest, Mukesh Sharma, filed an e-FIR. Upon arriving at the temple, he discovered that the ancient idol of Lord Shani and other brass items had been stolen. Given the seriousness of the situation, especially with the Maha Shani Jayanti approaching, a special team from the Kotwali police station was formed. This team scrutinized CCTV footage from the surrounding areas and potential escape routes, ultimately capturing a clear image of the suspect.
Local sources helped identify the suspect as 45-year-old Dilshad, also known as Banta, who resides in the Yamuna Bazaar area. He was apprehended on the night of May 14, around 9 PM. During interrogation, Dilshad revealed that he sold the stolen idol and other items to a scrap dealer named Geeta Kumari for 3,800 rupees. Police raided her location based on his information and recovered the idol along with all other items, leading to Geeta Kumari’s arrest on the morning of May 15.
Dilshad has a criminal history, with involvement in 15 cases related to theft, snatching, and the Arms Act across various police stations in Delhi. Geeta Kumari has also been linked to a previous theft case.
During this operation, police recovered the Ashtadhatu idol of Lord Shani and other brass items, including a canopy, mace, plate, and two lamp stands.
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