Sahu involved in 47 thefts in AP, Odisha and Karnataka and 60 kgs of silver ornaments recovered from him by Vijayawada Central Crime Station (CCS) police on Sunday.

Notorious burglar, Prakash Kumar Sahu, who is involved in several thefts including the sensational Kanakadurga temple robbery case in Vijayawada and Jagannath temple robbery in Puri, was nabbed by the Central Crime Station (CCS) police on Sunday.

The police recovered silver ornaments weighing about 60 kgs, worth Rs. 25 lakh and Rs.1.19 lakh cash from his possession.

A native of Bhilai in Chattisgarh, Sahu (38) was involved in the theft of Sri Kanakadurga Ammavari kireetam in Sri Durga Malleswaraswamyvarla Devastanam in 1998. The incident rocked the state leading to an uproar in and outside the Assembly over security in the temple.

The accused gained entry into the temple by breaking the locks and escaped with the kireetam. Government handed over the case to Crime Investigation Department, which arrested Sahu and he was sentenced to three years jail term in the case.

Sahu committed as many as 47 thefts including 24 in Andhra Pradesh, 14 in Odisha and the remaining nine burglaries in Karnataka. The offender gave sleepless nights to the police in the three States.

The accused used to target temples all alone. He is known to recce the temples and commit burglaries later with the help of gas cutter and an iron rod used for opening the locks by breaking or cutting and steal silver and gold ornaments. Sahu used to engage a taxi and travel to his native place after the offence, said City Police Commissioner A.B. Venkateswara Rao at a press conference here on Sunday.

“In many cases, he converted the booty (silver and gold ornaments) into cash by selling them in Chattisgarh and Odisha states. He stole some gold idols and diamonds from Jain Musuem in Mangalore. Sahu is maintaining some regular receivers. He was released from jail in December last year,” the police commissioner said.

In 2015, the accused committed thefts in Sai Bata temples at Srikakulam, Amalapuram, Ongole and Vijayawada and in Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple at Ravulapalem in East Godavari district, said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crimes) G. Ramakoteswara Rao.

The CCS police, who registered a case in March this year, apprehended Prakash Sahu. The accused confessed to have committed 47 offences in three states, said Deputy Commissioners of Police G.V.G. Ashok Kumar and L.K.V. Ranga Rao.