A worker at the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai has been apprehended for allegedly stealing money from donation boxes kept inside the temple premises. The accused, identified as 57-year-old Rajendra Pendurkar, was employed at the temple and is believed to have taken advantage of his access to restricted areas. The incident came to light after temple authorities noticed discrepancies and grew suspicious, prompting them to review CCTV footage from recent days.
Upon checking the recordings, officials reportedly found visual evidence of the worker repeatedly taking cash from donation boxes stored in the priests’ room. Following this, a formal complaint was lodged with the police. According to investigators, the accused is suspected to have stolen over INR 10,000, though authorities are verifying whether the amount could be higher and if such thefts had been occurring over a longer period.
The case is being handled by the police from Dadar Police Station, who have taken the accused into custody and initiated further investigation. Officials are also examining whether any other staff members were involved or aware of the theft. The incident has raised concerns about internal security and monitoring systems within one of Mumbai’s most prominent and heavily visited temples.
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