Woman accused of smashing temple hundi and stealing ₹10,000

Police have arrested a woman for allegedly breaking a temple donation box and stealing cash at Puzhakkalthara near Kollengode in Palakkad, Kerala.

The accused Prabhavati, 42, of Cheruvil House, Kanimangalam, was arrested following an investigation based on CCTV footage from the temple premises and adjoining areas.

Prabhavati contested the 2020 local body elections from ward 17 of Nenmara grama panchayat on a BJP ticket. BJP leaders said she was expelled from the party.

According to the police, the theft took place on Friday evening at Puzhakkalthara Mariamman temple. She allegedly broke the lock of the gift box outside the temple and stole around ₹10,000.

The theft came to light on Saturday morning when temple office bearers and priests arrived for the day’s rituals and found the donation box smashed.

Police were examining CCTV footage which allegedly showed a woman smashing a gift box in the night. Based on the footage, the police identified Prabhavati and took her into custody from her house.

Police said she was charged in an earlier cheating case involving the alleged use of imitation gold ornaments to dupe several people of millions of rupees.

Prabhavati was produced before the court and taken into judicial custody.

Published – 03 Jun 2026 20:45 IST