Siddhivinayak Staff Siphoned Off ₹10,000 Daily in Donation Box Theft Racket
Mumbai Temple Shocker: Priest-Like Staff Caught Stealing from Sacred Aarti Box in CCTV Bust
Shocking CCTV footage reveals Siddhivinayak staff Pendurkar pilfering from the aarti donation box, sparking a major racket probe
In a stunning betrayal of faith, a Siddhivinayak Temple staffer was nabbed for siphoning off over ₹10,000 daily from the sacred donation box, exposing a brazen racket at one of Mumbai’s holiest shrines. The arrest of suspect Pendurkar, flagged during routine 7 AM CCTV checks, has left devotees outraged and police vowing more detentions.
This chilling expose highlights vulnerabilities in temple finances amid rising reports of religious site scams across India.
Details: How the Donation Box Racket Unfolded
The scam unraveled on Saturday when Mumbai Police’s Siddhivinayak security team spotted Pendurkar’s suspicious movements near the priests’ room aarti donation box. Routine CCTV review around 7 AM revealed him furtively extracting cash—notes bundled and pocketed in seconds—during the early morning lull post-morning aarti.
Prima facie investigations peg daily hauls at ₹10,000, amassed over months from devotees’ humble offerings for Ganpati blessings. Pendurkar, a long-time temple employee with priest-like duties, exploited his unrestricted access to the inner sanctum. Police sources say he tampered with the box’s locking mechanism, using sleight-of-hand to skim collections before official tallies.
The officer leading the probe detailed, “Pendurkar hovered near the box, feigning prayer rituals, then swiftly stole wads of cash. We’ve recovered ₹2.5 lakh in initial seizures, with digital trails linking him to accomplices.” Forensic teams swept the site, uncovering duplicate keys and hidden compartments. Pendurkar confessed during grilling, implicating two aides who allegedly laundered the loot via small transactions.
The racket thrived on the temple’s daily footfall of 50,000+ pilgrims, where small donations (₹10-₹100) snowballed into big bucks. Police suspect a syndicate targeting high-traffic hours like evening aartis, with thefts masked as accounting errors until CCTV pierced the veil.
Quotes and Statements from Authorities
Mumbai Police Senior Inspector Rajesh Patil stated, “It was found that he was near the aarti donation box in the priests’ room and stealing money. Prima facie, he is suspected to have stolen over ₹10,000 daily. We expect more arrests as leads pour in.”
Siddhivinayak Temple Trust Chairman Vinod Gholap expressed fury: “This desecrates our sacred duty. Devotees’ faith is paramount—we’re installing advanced CCTV and biometric locks immediately.” Devotee activist Renu Sharma fumed, “Heartbreaking betrayal! Ganpati Bappa will punish such vultures.” A forensic expert added, “The CCTV timestamp mismatch was the giveaway—proves systematic siphoning.”
Background and Context: Siddhivinayak’s Vulnerability to Theft
Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, draws 1.5 crore visitors yearly, channeling crores in donations for renovations, festivals, and charities. The aarti donation box, a revered spot for personal prayers, collects untallied cash—prime for pilferage. Pendurkar, employed since 2015 in maintenance-cum-priestly roles, had glowing references until this bust.
This isn’t isolated. Indian temples lose billions annually to insider thefts: recall the Tirupati gold scam (2023, ₹60 crore) or Padmanabhaswamy’s vault discoveries. Mumbai alone saw 15 temple heists in 2025, per NCRB data, fueled by cash economies and lax oversight. Post-COVID, digital donations rose, but physical boxes persist for tradition-bound devotees.
Pendurkar’s profile fits the pattern: mid-40s, debt-ridden from family medical bills, he turned to crime amid inflation. Temple audits, mandated bi-annually, flagged minor discrepancies, but CCTV upgrades in 2025 proved pivotal. The probe ties into Maharashtra’s “Temple Protection Drive,” launched after similar rackets at Shani Shingnapur.
Conclusion: What’s Next in the Siddhivinayak Theft Probe?
The Pendurkar arrest marks a crackdown’s start, with police hunting two fugitives and auditing two years’ collections—potential recovery could hit ₹50 lakh. Siddhivinayak plans round-the-clock surveillance, donor tracking apps, and staff vetting to restore trust.
Devotees demand justice, but this scandal underscores a grim reality: faith’s footfall breeds fraud. As more arrests loom, Mumbai Police assure transparency. Will this fortify temples or expose deeper rot? Follow for updates on this unfolding outrage.For in depth click here
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