Screengrab of the theft

HYDERABAD: What could be special about a person doing sit-ups, holding his ears, and bowing several times before a presiding deity? A lot if one is performing penance for a sin he/she is going to commit minutes later.

At 6.20pm on Wednesday, a man entered the Durga Bhavani temple in Abids and decamped with the silver crown adorning the goddess, but not before doing penance for the sin. CCTV footage of the incident shows the man doing sit-ups, holding his ears and bowing to the goddess for several minutes before lifting the silver crown, tucking it in his shirt and walking away. The 35 tola silver crown was worth Rs 10,000, said police. Facing vehement protests from devotees, the city police are scouring the city streets and mohallas for clues, but so far, they have drawn a blank.

“The man was also seen looking around to be sure no one notices him, before lifting the crown. He is seen leaving after hiding it in his clothes,” said Abids inspector, Kandula Ravi Kumar.

Police said the priest was not present at the temple when the theft took place.

A CCTV camera outside the temple captured him calmly kick-starting his two-wheeler and leaving, said Ravi Kumar.



In Video: On cam: Thief offers prayers before stealing Durga crown in Hyderabad