Nagpur: Thieves Apologise to Deity Before Stealing Donation Box at Sheetla Mata Temple in Maharashtra (Video)
Two unidentified men were caught on CCTV allegedly offering prayers before breaking open donation boxes and stealing cash from a temple in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The incident occurred at the Sheetla Devi Temple in the early hours of July 28, and police have launched an investigation after temple authorities filed a complaint.
In an unusual incident captured on security cameras, two unidentified thieves were seen seeking forgiveness from a deity before breaking open donation boxes and stealing cash at a temple complex in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The burglary occurred at the Sheetla Mata Temple and an adjacent Shiv Temple in the Maldhakka area, under the jurisdiction of the Lakadganj Police Station.
The Lakadganj police registered a criminal case following a complaint lodged by temple officials and have launched an investigation to identify the suspects using surveillance footage. Ambaji Temple Employee Caught on Camera Stealing Money During Counting of Donations; Temple Trust Implements New SOP.
CCTV Captures Thieves Praying Before Stealing Donation Box at Nagpur Temple
A theft at the Sheetla Mata Temple in the Lakadganj area of Nagpur has come to light, with CCTV footage capturing two men allegedly apologising before the deity moments before stealing the temple's donation box.
According to preliminary information, the two accused entered the… pic.twitter.com/Bmibux1K2O
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CCTV Captures Gestures of Forgiveness Before Theft
According to police reports, temple caretaker Jitendra Pandey had locked the premises on the evening of July 27. Upon returning the following morning, he found the main entrance lock broken and discovered that the locks on both temple donation boxes had been forced open, with the cash missing.
Surveillance footage retrieved from the site revealed two men entering the temple compound during the night. Before breaking into the collection boxes, both suspects were seen standing in front of the idol, folding their hands, and holding their ears in a traditional gesture seeking divine forgiveness. Despite the initial hesitation, the perpetrators proceeded to break open both donation boxes, stole an estimated ₹6,000 to ₹7,000 in cash, and fled the scene. Pune Robbery Video: Man Caught on Camera Running Away With Temple Donation Box in Maharashtra, Arrested After Video Goes Viral.
Police Investigation and Local Reaction
The Lakadganj Police Station filed a case of burglary against the unidentified suspects based on Pandey's complaint. Investigating officers are analyzing footage from nearby CCTV cameras along access roads in the Maldhakka area to track the suspects' entry and escape routes.
Local residents and police noted that similar incidents have occurred previously in Nagpur, including a case in the Dhantoli area where a burglar was filmed praying before stealing a temple donation box. Police officials stated that efforts are underway to identify the suspects and recover the stolen funds.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 30, 2026 12:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
