Delhi Police announced the arrest of Bhushan Verma from Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with the theft of a gold, diamond-studded ‘kalash’ worth Rs 1 crore. The ‘kalash’ was stolen from a religious event near the Red Fort. Initial reports suggested multiple ‘kalash’ were stolen, prompting investigations and raids. Verma was identified through CCTV footage and is currently being questioned. The Jain community event, which began on August 28 and continues until September 9, requires participants to wear a dhoti and ‘ang vastra’. Verma, disguised as a Jain monk, exploited this dress code to blend in. Verma, a resident of Asoda village, has a history of stealing ‘kalash’, including from Delhi’s Lal Mandir and a temple in Ashok Vihar. He faces five registered cases. Police recovered an urn-like object from his home. On September 3, while security was focused on welcoming Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Verma seized the opportunity to steal two gold urns, one containing a coconut with 760 grams of gold and the other studded with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. The urns, valued at Rs 1.5 crore, belonged to businessman Sudhir Jain and were kept in the kitchen area.
