A thief stole wads of cash from the donation box of a Ganesh Chaturthi pandal in Maharashtra's Akola district on Monday, police said. The entire incident was caught on camera.
The incident took place during Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations at Akola's Chhoti Umri Chowk area when pandal workers were engaged in other assignments.
A video of the theft shows a man casually walking up to the donation box kept in front of the Ganesh statue. He then inspects the box before tinkering with it in an attempt to open it. After managing to break it open, the thief took out wads of cash and put it in his pocket before fleeing the scene.
According to the police, the thief stole an estimated Rs 15,000-Rs 16,000 from the donation box.
Following the incident, Ganesh Mandals in the district have demanded two police personnel on duty at all pandals during the Ganpati festival.
The 10-day Ganesh Chaturthi festival started on Tuesday last week and will culminate with elaborate immersion processions on Anant Chaturdashi, 10 days from the start of the festival.
Bhumi Pednekar Shares Recipe For Ukadiche Modak - Watch Her Make Them From Scratch Disha Patani's Black Suit Is A Swift Shift From Her Usual Bold Festive Choices Raha And Jeh Steal The Show In The Kapoors' Ganesh Chaturthi Famjam Pics Is Safe Car Enough? Volvo Crash That Killed CEO, Family Sparks Big Question Snack Food Epigamia Founder Rohan Mirchandani Dies Of Cardiac Arrest At 41 Jeff Bezos To Marry Lauren Sanchez In A Lavish $600M Ceremony: Report Woman, Her Friend Check Into Delhi Hotel, Both Found Dead Days Later China Says It "Firmly Opposes" US Military Aid To Taiwan Benching To Love Bombing, 7 Online Dating Terms That Ruled 2024 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.