Moodbidri Basadi theft kingpin remanded to police custody

July 30, 2013

Mangalore, Jul 30: The main accused in the biggest temple heist in the state, Ghanshyam alias Santhosh Das was brought to Dakshina Kannada and produced before the court here on Monday. He has been remanded to police custody for 11 days.

The kingpin of the Moddbidri Basadi theft case was arrested at Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh three days ago, by a special team constituted to nab him. During the 11 days' time, the team will conduct a thorough investigation of the case and obtain complete information and clues related to it from the accused.

It was divulged that the arrested kingpin also confessed to his involvement in Kodyadka temple theft and other thefts at Udupi and Karkala.

Santhosh Das is also said to have revealed most details of the major heist he conducted in Moodabidri Siddantha Darshana Mandir in which priceless antique idols and other valuables were stolen.

Tracing the accused to Bhubaneshwar in Odisha, the special police team cracked the case. Although Santhosh Das had been absconding, he was later traced through his new mobile number based on information eked out from Santhosh's younger brother on interrogation.

It can be recalled that police had earlier arrested Santhosh's wife Diptimayee and her father Digambar in connection with their involvement in the theft case.

Santhosh is said to have revealed how he gained entry into the Basadi using a gas-cutter, and stole antique idols worth crores of rupees without triggering the alarm. After the heist, Santhosh had stored the idols at his father-in-law Digambar's house, and had been absconding since.

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Mangaluru’s ₹1,200 crore fix: Massive sewage overhaul to end city’s drainage woes

News Network

December 19,2025

Mangaluru: In a decisive move to tackle the city’s deteriorating sanitation infrastructure, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has announced a massive ₹1,200 crore action plan to overhaul its underground drainage (UGD) network.

The initiative, spearheaded by Deputy Commissioner and MCC Administrator Darshan HV, aims to bridge "missing links" in the current system that have left residents grappling with overflowing sewage and environmental hazards.

The Breaking Point

The announcement follows a high-intensity phone-in session on Thursday, where the DC was flooded with grievances from frustrated citizens. Residents, including Savithri from Yekkur, described a harrowing reality: raw sewage from apartments leaking into stormwater drains, creating a "permanent stink" and turning residential zones into mosquito breeding grounds.

"We are facing immense difficulties due to the stench and the health risks. Local officials have remained silent until now," one resident reported during the session.

The Strategy: A Six-Year Vision

DC Darshan HV confirmed that the proposed plan is not a temporary patch but a comprehensive six-year roadmap designed to accommodate Mangaluru’s projected population growth. Key highlights of the plan include:

• Infrastructure Expansion: Laying additional pipelines to connect older neighborhoods to the main grid.

• STP Crackdown: Stricter enforcement of Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) regulations. While new apartments are required to have functional STPs, many older buildings lack them entirely, and several newer units are reportedly non-functional.

• Budgetary Push: The plan has already been discussed with the district in-charge minister and the Secretary of the Urban Development Department. It is slated for formal presentation in the upcoming state budget.

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