Varanasi Shocker: Servants at Mahant's Home Caught in Crores-Worth Theft, 6 Arrested After Encounter

In a major breakthrough in the high-profile theft at the residence of Sankat Mochan temple’s Mahant Vishwambhar Nath Mishra, police have arrested six criminals, including three household servants, following an encounter in Varanasi’s Ramnagar area. The operation, carried out by eleven police teams, led to three suspects being shot in the leg during the exchange of fire, while three others surrendered.

Servants Turned Robbers

The shocking part of the crime is the involvement of insiders. Three of the arrested were employed as domestic help at the Mahant’s residence and allegedly planned the robbery along with their associates. The accused had been conspiring for days, choosing Sunday night for the heist while the Mahant family was out of town.

Arrested Criminals Identified

The arrested accused include:

• Vicky Tiwari (30), Jitendra Singh alias Golu Patel (38), and Rakesh Dubey (36) — all employed at the Mahant’s residence and hailing from Kaimur, Bihar.
• Their accomplices: Dilip alias Bansi Choubey (29), Atul Shukla (27), and Shani Madheshiya (23) — from Varanasi, Fatehpur, and Deoria respectively.

Stolen Valuables Worth Crores Recovered

Police have recovered stolen cash and jewellery, including heirlooms spanning three generations of the Mahant family, with estimated value in crores of rupees. The thieves had planned to divide the loot on the day of their arrest. Further interrogation is underway to locate the remaining stolen items, including precious stones.

Police Action Swift and Coordinated

The operation was executed by joint teams from SOG, Lanka, Bhelupur, and Ramnagar police stations. Authorities acted swiftly after the Mahant family returned home on Monday and discovered the robbery. With some suspects injured and under medical supervision, police are now deep into interrogations to unravel the full extent of the plot.