A 32-kg silver idol of Sri Pavada Basaveshwara, valued at approximately Rs 51.20 lakh, was stolen from the historic Sri Pavada Basaveshwara Temple in Karnataka’s Vijayapura district. The theft was discovered when the temple caretaker found the locks of the sanctum and outer entrance broken early on Monday morning.
Yamanappa Biradar, the president of the Sri Pavada Basaveshwara Temple Committee, received a call from the caretaker after the forced entry was noticed. The stolen idol belonged to the central shrine dedicated to Sri Pavada Basaveshwara within the temple complex, which also houses shrines for Sri Sharanabasaveshwara and Sri Karibasaveshwara.
Police suspect the theft occurred between 9 p.m. on July 5 and 4:30 a.m. on July 6. An investigation is underway, with authorities examining CCTV footage, collecting forensic evidence, and questioning locals. The incident has caused concern among devotees and residents of the area.
