Silver Shivling stolen from Shiv temple in Preet Vihar
A shocking incident came to light at around 3 am on Sunday morning at a Sanatan Shiv temple in Nirman Vihar located in Preet Vihar police station area of East district of Delhi. Unidentified thieves stole a silver Shivalinga worth about Rs 25 lakh from the temple. This incident has also been confirmed by news agency IANS through X platform. In the morning, when the trustees and the priest arrived for the puja, the theft was discovered and the police was immediately informed.
Method of theft and CCTV footage
CCTV footage showed that two thieves entered the temple premises through the park. A thief tried to break or divert the CCTV camera to avoid the footage, but despite this the entire incident was captured on camera. A shocking scene has also been captured in the footage that before committing the theft, the thieves touched the feet of Shivalinga. After committing the crime, both the thieves easily fled from the spot. This incident raises serious questions on the security arrangements of the temple complex.
Police action and investigation
As soon as information about the incident was received, Preet Vihar police reached the spot. Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code on the complaint of the temple trustees. The police team has started efforts to identify and arrest the accused by taking possession of the CCTV footage. Along with this, Crime and FSL (Forensic Science Lab) teams also reached the spot and collected evidence. Other cameras installed in the surrounding areas are also being examined so that the escape route of the thieves and their possible identity can be confirmed.
Estimated value of stolen Shivalinga
Initial reports put the value of the stolen silver Shivalinga at around Rs 20 lakh, but as per the police investigation and details given by the temple trustee, its estimated value has been estimated at around Rs 25 lakh. Some reports also mention that it could be a silver Shivalinga or a leaf/umbrella mounted on it. This theft is a big blow to the religious community and has caused deep concern among the devotees.
Question on security of religious places
This theft in Delhi’s Nirman Vihar raises serious questions on the security of religious places. In recent times, many such incidents of theft in temples and other religious places have been reported from different parts of the country. There have also been incidents of theft of silver umbrellas and Shivling in cities like Ballia and Agra. In view of these incidents, religious trusts and local administration need to further strengthen the security arrangements of temples, so that such unfortunate incidents can be prevented and the faith of the devotees is not hurt.
Last Updated: 19 January 2026