The Malur police arrested a man on charges related to the theft of valuables from the Satyasandha Teertha Mutt at Mahishi village in Tirthahalli taluk on Wednesday. Valuables worth over ₹1 crore were recovered from the accused within hours of the offence.
The arrested man was identified as Raghavendra Acharya, 25, a resident of Gandhi Nagar in Shivamogga town. The police recovered 16 gold halagarathis (priest’s plates used in aarti ceremonies) weighing approximately 780 grams.
According to the complaint filed with Malur police by Vadiraja Huilagola, a representative of the Kudali Arya Akshobhyateertha Mutt, a special pooja was held at the Satyasandha Teertha Mutt at Mahishi on Tuesday. Raghuvijaya Teertha Swami of Kudali Arya Akshobhyateertha Mutt and his disciples participated in the pooja. The disciples had carried valuable items for the ceremony from the Kudali Mutt for the occasion.
After the pooja concluded, the valuables were reported missing. The complainant named four individuals involved in the ceremony as suspects. It is said that the accused, also a disciple of the seer, had stolen the valuables when the seer and others left the venue for lunch.
Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday, Superintendent of Police B. Nikhil commended the swift resolution. “I was informed of the incident, and our team cordoned off the area immediately, narrowed down the suspects and recovered the stolen items intact. Our officers responded with exemplary efficiency,” he said.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Aravind Kulagandi, Malur Police Inspector Rajashekhar, Police Inspector Iram Baig, and PSI Sunil Kumar led the investigation.
Published – June 18, 2026 08:48 pm IST
