Basar temple theft: Silver crown, hundi stolen from Gnana Saraswathi premises
Synopsis
Thieves broke into the Mahakali temple inside Telangana's iconic Gnana Saraswathi complex at Basar overnight, stealing a 1.5-kg silver crown and the hundi. CCTV caught two masked men in the act — and a near-identical theft hit a temple in Andhra Pradesh's Nandyal district the same night, pointing to a possible pattern.
Key Takeaways
Two masked men broke into the Mahakali temple at Basar , Nirmal district , Telangana , late on Monday night, 23 June .
Stolen items include a silver crown weighing approximately 1.5 kg and the temple hundi ; cash was removed and the empty box dumped near the premises.
CCTV footage captured both suspects; a clues team and dog squad have been deployed.
District SP Janaki Sharmila and Mudhol MLA Rama Rao visited the site; offering-count proceedings have been postponed.
A separate hundi theft was also reported at Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple , Koilakuntla , Nandyal district , Andhra Pradesh , on the same night.
The Gnana Saraswathi temple is undergoing a ₹225 crore expansion sanctioned by Chief Minister A.
Revanth Reddy in April.
Two unidentified masked men broke into the Mahakali temple within the premises of the revered Gnana Saraswathi temple at Basar in Telangana's Nirmal district late on Monday night, making off with a silver crown weighing approximately 1.5 kilograms and the temple's hundi (offering box). The theft was discovered early Tuesday, 23 June, when priests arrived for morning prayers and found the gate broken open.
How the Theft Unfolded
According to temple officials, the two men forced open the temple gate under cover of darkness. They removed cash from the hundi and abandoned the empty box near the temple premises before fleeing. CCTV footage from within the temple captured the two individuals, both wearing masks, entering and carrying out the theft. A clues team and dog squad were subsequently pressed into service as part of the investigation.
Officials Respond
District Superintendent of Police Janaki Sharmila, Mudhol MLA Rama Rao, and other senior officials visited the temple on Tuesday to oversee the probe. Following the incident, temple authorities postponed the routine counting of devotee offerings until further notice.
Significance of the Gnana Saraswathi Temple
The Gnana Saraswathi temple is one of Telangana's most prominent religious sites, situated on the banks of the sacred Godavari river — revered as the 'Dakshina Ganga' or Southern Ganges. According to legend, sage Veda Vyasa is believed to have sculpted and consecrated the idols of Gnana Saraswati, Mahalakshmi, and Mahakali here following the Kurukshetra War, establishing Basara as the holy abode of the 'Trimataas'. In April, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy laid the foundation for the temple's expansion and development works, sanctioned at a cost of ₹225 crore.
Similar Incident in Andhra Pradesh
In a separate but related development, a theft was also reported at the Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple in Koilakuntla, Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh. According to police, a masked man entered the temple around midnight and escaped with the hundi. The incident was recorded on the temple's CCTV cameras, and police have registered a case and launched an investigation to track down the accused.
The twin incidents raise concerns about security arrangements at religious sites across the two Telugu states, particularly ahead of peak pilgrimage seasons when offerings and valuables tend to accumulate.
Point of View
Currently undergoing a ₹225 crore expansion — exposes a glaring gap between infrastructure investment and basic security. The near-simultaneous hundi theft in Nandyal, Andhra Pradesh, on the same night suggests either opportunistic copycat behaviour or a coordinated network. Temple administrations across the two Telugu states have historically been slow to upgrade physical security despite CCTV installation, and this incident underlines that cameras alone are not a deterrent. The question authorities must answer is whether endowment boards are adequately funding on-ground security personnel to match the scale of religious tourism they are actively promoting.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was stolen from the Basar Gnana Saraswathi temple?
Thieves stole a silver crown weighing approximately 1.5 kilograms and the hundi (offering box) from the Mahakali temple inside the Gnana Saraswathi complex at Basar. Cash was removed from the hundi before the empty box was abandoned near the temple premises.
When did the Basar temple theft occur?
The theft took place late on Monday night, with the crime discovered early on Tuesday, 23 June, when priests arrived for morning prayers and found the temple gate broken open.
Has anyone been arrested in the Basar temple theft case?
No arrests have been reported as of Tuesday. CCTV footage showing two masked men has been recovered, and a clues team along with a dog squad have been deployed to assist the investigation.
What is the significance of the Gnana Saraswathi temple at Basar?
The Gnana Saraswathi temple is one of Telangana's most important religious sites, located on the banks of the Godavari river. It is believed to house idols sculpted by sage Veda Vyasa and is revered as the abode of the 'Trimataas' — Gnana Saraswati, Mahalakshmi, and Mahakali. The temple is currently undergoing a ₹225 crore expansion.
Was there a similar temple theft elsewhere on the same night?
Yes. A masked man also stole the hundi from the Sri Satyanarayana Swamy Temple in Koilakuntla, Nandyal district, Andhra Pradesh, around midnight on the same night. CCTV footage was recorded and police have registered a case.
