Archive · 29 Oct 2025
Temple Priest Arrested for Stealing Gold Ornaments
A temple priest in Vijayawada has been arrested for stealing gold ornaments from a deity.
For a long time, he secretly took the real gold decorations, which were worth a lot of money, and replaced them with fake ones.
He did this because he wanted to live a more luxurious life.
Luckily, people noticed the fake jewelry and told the police.
The police were able to find the priest and get back all the real gold within a week.
He has now been sent to jail.
A temple priest in Vijayawada, Pannala Durga Jayaram alias Jayaram Sharma, has been arrested.
He is accused of replacing real gold temple ornaments with imitation ones over several months.
The stolen gold ornaments are valued at Rs. 20 lakh and weigh 190 grams.
Police recovered the original ornaments within a week of the complaint.
The priest allegedly committed the crime to fund a luxurious lifestyle.
- Who
- Pannala Durga Jayaram alias Jayaram Sharma, a temple priest
- What
- Allegedly replaced original gold temple ornaments with imitation ones and stole the originals.
- When
- The theft occurred over several months, with the arrest and recovery made on Tuesday.
- Where
- Sri Kasi Annapurna Sametha Visweshwara Swamy Temple in Hanumanpalem village, Vijayawada.
- Why
- Motivated by greed for a luxurious lifestyle.
Accusation
Defense
Allegations Against Priest
Accusation
The priest is accused of systematically removing original gold ornaments, valued at Rs. 20 lakh and weighing 190 grams, and replacing them with imitation jewelry over several months due to greed and a desire for a luxurious lifestyle.
Defense
No defense statement was provided in the articles.
- Accused
- Pannala Durga Jayaram alias Jayaram Sharma
- Temple
- Sri Kasi Annapurna Sametha Visweshwara Swamy Temple
- Location
- Hanumanpalem village, Vijayawada
- Alleged Theft Value
- Rs. 20 lakh
- Weight of Ornaments
- 190 grams
- Recovery Time
- Within a week
