Red Fort Theft: Bhushan Verma Nabbed for Stealing Gold Kalash

Delhi Police have arrested Bhushan Verma from Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, in connection to the theft of a Rs 1 crore gold and diamond-studded ‘kalash’ from a religious gathering near the Red Fort. The arrest occurred late Sunday night. After the theft, which sparked speculation about multiple stolen items, authorities formed a special investigation team and conducted raids. Bhushan Verma was identified via CCTV footage. The Jain community event at August Park, near the Red Fort, began on August 28 and is scheduled to continue until September 9, with specific dress code requirements, including a dhoti and ‘ang vastra’. Bhushan Verma, a resident of Asoda village, has a history of similar thefts, with prior incidents at Delhi’s Lal Mandir and a temple in Ashok Vihar, and five registered cases. Police recovered a suspicious object from his home. On September 3, Verma, disguised as a Jain monk, entered the ceremony. Capitalizing on the distraction of welcoming Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, he stole two gold urns, with a combined worth of Rs 1.5 crore. One urn contained a gold-covered coconut weighing about 760 grams, while the other was encrusted with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies. Businessman Sudhir Jain had brought both the urns.