The Pune Rural police recently arrested two men for a series of temple burglaries across Junnar, Ambegaon, and Shirur talukas.
The investigation revealed a modern twist to the crimes: the suspects allegedly used Google Maps to scout remote temple locations, study their surroundings, and plan their midnight thefts.
The string of seven burglaries over the last two months, which coincided with the start of traditional ‘yatra’ and ‘utsav’ festivals, had left residents and local priests on edge.
In response to public outcry,Sandeep Singh Gill, Superintendent of Police, directed a local crime branch team, led by Inspector Avinash Shilimkar, to solve the cases.
A theft attempt was reported at a Khandoba temple in Nalavane village in Junnar on December 30.
The burglars allegedly tried to steal the paduka, the deity’s sacred footwear, from the temple.
But an anti-theft siren at the spot triggered, and the burglars fled from the temple.
In this case, the FIR was lodged at the Alephata police station.
In another case, around 2 am on January 23, the burglars allegedly made away with a donation box carrying Rs 20,000 from Shri Someshwar Temple in Pimpri Dumala village in Shirur taluka ofPunedistrict.
The donation box was later found lying in the bushes nearby, but the cash was stolen, the police said.
An FIR was lodged at the Ranjangaon MIDC police station.
In another instance, Rs 11,000 in cash was stolen from the donation box of the Shivshambo temple at Dhalwadi in Junnar in the morning hours of February 7.
Similarly, Rs 45,000 was stolen from the donation box of Bhairavnath Temple in Shiroli village, Junnar, on the intervening night between February 5 and February 6.
The FIRs in both thefts were lodged at the Junnar police station.
In the midnight hours of February 22, unidentified people allegedly stole Rs 12,000 from the donation box at a Sai Temple in Warulwadi village in Junnar, after closing the door latch of the priest’s room from outside.
The FIR in this case was filed at the Narayangaon police station.
Hours later, on the morning of February 23, a theft of Rs 20,000 was reported from the donation box of the Khandoba temple in Chinchkaimala village, Junnar.
The police filed an FIR at the Alephata police station.
In the early hours of March 3, Rs 2,000 in cash was stolen from the donation box at Kalambadevi Mata Temple in Shevalwadi, Manchar.
The police said the deity’s paduka and the digital video recorder (DVR) for the CCTV installed at the spot were also stolen.
An FIR was lodged in this case at the Manchar police station.
Soon after this theft, working on clues from the investigation into previous burglaries at other temples, the police nabbed two burglars from Kandali Phata on the Pune–Nashik highway on March 3.
The police identified the accused as Sunil Suresh Agiwale, 20, and Bhima Bhausaheb Girhe, 26, both residents of the Ahilyanagar district.
The police confirmed their involvement in seven temple burglaries in Pune district and one in Ahilyanagar, during which they allegedly stole Rs 50,000 from a donation box at the Khandoba temple in Dhandarfal village, Sangamner, on February 9.
The police said they obtained clues about the suspects from CCTV footage captured at a couple of temples that had been burgled.
Assistant Inspector Mahadev Shelar said, “CCTV footage showed suspects having their faces covered with a cloth.
But during the probe, we obtained details about the motorcycle they used in the crime.
The probe revealed that suspects matching the same description were involved in thefts at different temples.
After committing the crime, they were seen riding towards the Sangamner area via Nashik road.”
Shelar said that following the leads, they nabbed the two suspects and recovered a motorcycle, a screwdriver, other equipment they used for thefts, a spray, some cash, and a silver footwear of a deity, all worth Rs 1.19 lakh, from their possession.
“It was learnt during the investigation that the accused were choosing the temples for burglary using Google Maps.
They randomly selected rural temples and studied their surroundings on Google Maps.
Then they took screenshots of the temples they wanted to burgle.
They committed thefts at these temples in the midnight hours and mainly looked for the money in donation boxes,” said Shelar.
The officer further said they found screenshots of several other temples on the accused’s cell phones.
“So far, we have found their involvement in eight temple burglaries.
But they may have committed thefts at many other temples in the Pune and Ahilyanagar districts.
Further investigation is on,” he said.
Shelar said the accused Sunil Agiwale was earlier booked in foursandalwood theft casesregistered at the Chaturshringi police station in Pune.
“He now seems to have joined hands with accused Bhima and one more suspect, who is on the run, for stealing cash and valuables from temples,” Shelar said.
Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune.
With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs.
Professional Profile
Specialization:
He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights.
He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra.
While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra.
He is at the helm of the widely read weekly series “Pune Crime Files”.
He is widely recognized for his deep-dive coverage of the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and the Elgaar Parishad investigation.
Key Beats:
His portfolio includes covering crimes mainly under the jurisdiction of Pune City, Pune rural and Pimpri Chinchwad Police, along with the sensitive cases from the state, being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Background:
Before his long tenure at The Indian Express, he worked with other Marathi and English publications, giving him a unique grassroots understanding of Maharashtra's socio-political landscape.
Awards and Recognition:
He got the CMS PANOS Young Environment Journalist Award in January 2014 for investigative reports on illegal activities in Sahyadri Tiger Rerserve.
He received the award for outstanding investigative journalism by the Lokmat group in Pune in January 2020, “Missing since 2010, Pune youth a ‘Maoist Commander’ in Chhattisgarh”, which appeared on July 9, 2019.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
In recent months, Chandan’s reporting has focused on high-profile terror case investigations, inter-state firearms racket, leopard movements in Pune city, cyber scams and hearings of the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry.
1.
High-Profile crimes and terrorism cases
“Techie linked to Al-Qaeda preached democracy is against Shariat” (Nov 17, 2025).
Reporting on the ongoing investigation into the arrest of IT professional Zubair Hangargekar (37) from Pune for alleged terror links.
“The case against Jyoti Jagtap, member of ‘Maoist front’ Kabir Kala Manch and Elgaar Parishad organiser, granted interim bail by apex court” (Nov 20, 2025)
Tracking the updates in the high profile Elgaar Parishad case related to the alleged naxal activities in urban areas.
“How NIA arrested doctor turned ‘ISIS recruiter’ in Maharashtra terror module case” (Nov 24, 2025)
After the arrest of doctors in Delhi Red Fort blast, a report on alleged terror links of a consulting anaesthetist from a Pune hospital.
“A year after loco pilot averts tragedy by spotting gas cylinder on railway track, probe still inconclusive” (Dec 8, 2025).
Report on the unsolved case of a suspected sabotage incident, which could have derailed a train.
“No records of Sambhaji Maharaj’s cremation available: Author, ex-IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Koregaon Bhima panel” (Dec 1, 2025)
Reporting on a sensitive issue related to the Koregaon Bhima violence.
2.
Inter-state firearms racket
"Pune police swoop down on ‘village of pistols’ in Madhya Pradesh; 36 detained, 50 kilns destroyed" (Nov 22, 2025)
"Recce a week before, microplanning: how Pune police raided ‘village of pistols’ in MP" (Nov 24, 2025)
Reporting on the illegal gun manufacturing units in Umarti village, Madhya Pradesh
3.
Cybercrime & Financial Scams
“Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest ‘bank account supplier’ with links to China, nationwide cyber scams" (Nov 27, 2025)
An investigative look at the modus opernadi of international cyber-gangs cheating high-earning professionals across the country
‘Your case linked to Pahalgam terrorist’: Pune businessman loses Rs 1.44 crore to fraudster posing as NIA chief" (Oct 18, 2025)
Report on the tricks played on cyber scammers cheating people through digital arrest frauds
Signature Style: The Investigative Hit
Chandan is known for his ability to cultivate deep-cover sources within the police and intelligence agencies.
His writing often goes beyond the "police version" of events, providing historical context and identifying systemic lapses.
He is particularly respected for his balanced reporting on sensitive communal issues and his persistent tracking of the Maoist urban-link cases, making his columns essential reading for legal experts and policymakers.
X (Twitter): @chandan_pune...
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