An 18-year-old youth has been arrested for allegedly stealing a 1,100-year-old Ashtadhatu idol of Lakshmi-Narayan from a historic temple in the Amer area of Jaipur, Rajasthan, driven by the belief that the ancient idol concealed a precious Neelam (sapphire) and hidden treasure. Police recovered the stolen idol from an agricultural field where the accused had buried it among crops, following a painstaking investigation spanning nearly 500 CCTV locations and data from around 1,000 mobile numbers.

How the Theft Unfolded

The theft at the Thakur Lakshmi-Narayan Temple in Saiwadi village was reported on 5 June, following a complaint by Purushottam Lal Sharma. A case was registered at Amer Police Station, and the incident sparked widespread anger among local residents.

According to investigators, the accused — identified as Naresh Sharma of Saiwadi village — had been visiting the temple regularly for service-related activities over the preceding five to six months. During this period, he allegedly became convinced that a valuable gemstone, specifically a sapphire, was embedded within the centuries-old idol, and that treasure lay concealed beneath it.

He reportedly carried out the theft during a power outage at night, removing the approximately two-foot-tall Ashtadhatu idol — an alloy of eight metals — before damaging it and hiding it in his own agricultural field to avoid detection.

The Accused's Bid to Evade Detection

In a calculated move to deflect suspicion, the accused allegedly joined local protests demanding the idol's recovery, while simultaneously keeping a close watch on police movements. Investigators later found that he had spent several months researching online the value of ancient idols and potential avenues for selling them.

This dual behaviour — publicly agitating for the idol's return while concealing it himself — is what investigators say delayed initial leads and complicated the early phase of the probe.

The Investigation: 500 Cameras, 1,000 Numbers

DCP (North) Karan Sharma said the investigation involved a meticulous review of CCTV footage from nearly 500 locations, including the temple premises and surrounding areas. Police also analysed BTS tower data and Call Detail Records (CDR) of approximately 1,000 mobile numbers to narrow down the suspect.

Based on the convergence of technical evidence and inputs from informants, police detained Naresh Sharma (18). During interrogation, he confessed to the theft and led police to the concealed idol in his field.

Significance of the Recovered Idol

The recovered idol, crafted from Ashtadhatu — a traditional alloy of eight metals — is estimated to be approximately 1,100 years old and is regarded as a significant religious and historical artefact. Its recovery has been welcomed by the local community, though concerns remain about the condition of the idol, which the accused reportedly damaged after stealing it.

Investigation Continues

Police are continuing their probe to determine whether any other individuals were involved in the theft and whether Naresh Sharma had links to idol-smuggling networks operating in the region. The outcome of that inquiry could have wider implications for the trafficking of heritage artefacts from Rajasthan's historically rich temple circuit.