Gujarat Police crack Umiya Mata Temple theft: 5 arrested, ₹8.5 lakh recovered
Synopsis
Five men allegedly used Google Search and Google Maps to plan and execute a pre-dawn heist at the Umiya Mata Temple in Sanand, Ahmedabad — stealing silver ornaments worth ₹3 lakh, melting them in Chittorgarh, and nearly getting away. Gujarat Police cracked the case in days using technical surveillance and prior-offender monitoring.
Key Takeaways
Five persons arrested for allegedly stealing silver ornaments from Umiya Mata Temple , Sanand, Ahmedabad on 17 July .
Stolen items included a silver canopy ( ₹2.5 lakh ) and a silver idol ( ₹50,000 ); total theft valued at approximately ₹3 lakh .
Accused Laxman Gurjar allegedly used Google Maps to map entry/exit routes and shared a screen recording with co-accused before the heist.
Stolen silver was transported to Chittorgarh, Rajasthan and melted; police recovered a 2 kg silver bar worth ₹3 lakh .
Total recovered property — silver bar, pickup vehicle, and mobile phones — valued at ₹8.5 lakh .
Case registered under Sections 305(D) and 331(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 ; further investigation ongoing.
Ahmedabad Rural Police have arrested five persons for allegedly stealing silver ornaments from the Umiya Mata Temple on Sanand Bypass Road in Ahmedabad, recovering property worth ₹8.5 lakh — including a silver bar, a pickup vehicle, and mobile phones — within days of the case being registered.
How the Theft Unfolded
The theft occurred between 2 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on 17 July, when the accused allegedly broke the lock of the main door of the temple's sanctum sanctorum and entered the premises. They stole a silver canopy of the deity weighing approximately 2.5 to 3 kg, valued at around ₹2.5 lakh, a silver idol weighing around 500 grams worth ₹50,000, and other imitation items — bringing the total value of stolen goods to approximately ₹3 lakh.
The Digital Trail: Google Search and Route Mapping
Investigators found that accused Laxman Gurjar, 18, had searched for the temple on Google, viewed photographs of the premises, and subsequently conducted a physical survey of the location. He allegedly checked entry and exit routes, mapped the path to the temple via Google Maps, recorded a screen video, and shared it with the other accused before executing the theft.
His brother and co-accused Kishan alias Kano Gurjar, 24, reportedly avoided carrying a mobile phone during the crime and kept their pickup vehicle parked approximately five kilometres from the temple to evade detection. Kishan had previously been arrested in theft cases and was reportedly familiar with police procedures.
Accused Profile and Modus Operandi
The five accused have been identified as Laxman Gurjar and Kishan alias Kano Gurjar, brothers from Reh village in Bhilwara district, Rajasthan; Mukesh Nath alias Rajesh Nath Shivnath, 27, and Suresh Nath alias Surjan Nath Sukanath, 22, both members of the Kalbeliya (Jogi) community residing in temporary huts near Manipur village in Sanand; and Ajay Nath Soganath, 19, originally from Nathdwara, Rajasthan, also residing in Sanand.
According to police, Laxman and Kishan used their pickup vehicle to transport goods between Gujarat and Rajasthan. During visits to Ahmedabad, they allegedly stayed in the vehicle for two to three days, surveyed locations, carried out thefts, and returned to Rajasthan. The remaining accused were living in temporary settlements in Ahmedabad and working as daily wage labourers collecting plastic and scrap — activities police say were used to identify potential theft locations.
Silver Melted in Rajasthan, Partially Recovered
Investigators found that the stolen silver ornaments had been transported to Chittorgarh, Rajasthan, where they were sold and melted. Police recovered a silver bar weighing approximately 2 kg, valued at ₹3 lakh, along with the pickup vehicle used in the crime, valued at ₹5 lakh, and five mobile phones worth ₹50,000.
Investigation and Legal Action
The case was registered under Sections 305(D) and 331(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Police Inspector B.T. Gohil formed dedicated surveillance teams and directed them to deploy both technical and human intelligence. Monitoring of individuals with prior theft records led investigators to the suspects. During questioning, the accused allegedly confessed to the crime.
Police records show prior criminal cases against Kishan alias Kano Gurjar, including one at Sanand Police Station under Sections 303(2) and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and another at Sabarmati Police Station under Section 303(2). Further investigation in the temple theft case is underway.
Point of View
Google Maps to plan an escape route, and a screen recording to brief accomplices is not sophisticated — but it is methodical, and it is working. What is notable here is the cross-state dimension: a Gujarat temple, Rajasthan-based accused, and silver melted in Chittorgarh within days. That inter-state mobility makes temple thefts harder to crack without coordinated intelligence sharing. Gujarat Police's use of prior-offender surveillance to close the case quickly is commendable, but the pattern of migrant-worker cover being used to scout locations warrants a broader look at how police across states share real-time intelligence on repeat offenders.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which temple was robbed and when did the theft occur?
The Umiya Mata Temple on Sanand Bypass Road in Ahmedabad was targeted between 2 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on 17 July . The accused allegedly broke the lock of the sanctum sanctorum and stole silver ornaments worth approximately ₹3 lakh.
How did the accused plan the temple theft?
According to police, accused Laxman Gurjar searched for the temple on Google, viewed photographs, conducted a physical survey, and used Google Maps to map entry and exit routes. He recorded a screen video and shared it with co-accused before the heist.
Who are the five persons arrested in the Umiya Mata Temple theft case?
The five accused are Laxman Gurjar (18) and Kishan alias Kano Gurjar (24) from Bhilwara, Rajasthan; Mukesh Nath alias Rajesh Nath Shivnath (27) and Suresh Nath alias Surjan Nath Sukanath (22) from temporary settlements in Sanand; and Ajay Nath Soganath (19) from Nathdwara, Rajasthan.
What property did police recover from the accused?
Police recovered a silver bar weighing approximately 2 kg valued at ₹3 lakh , a pickup vehicle worth ₹5 lakh , and five mobile phones worth ₹50,000 — totalling ₹8.5 lakh in recovered property.
What happened to the stolen silver ornaments?
The stolen silver was transported to Chittorgarh in Rajasthan , where it was sold and melted. Police were able to recover a portion of the proceeds in the form of a silver bar during the investigation.
