Golden Kalash worth Rs 1 crore stolen from Red Fort during Jain event, suspect traced

New Delhi: A golden, jewel-studded ceremonial Kalash valued at nearly Rs 1 crore was stolen from Delhi’s Red Fort during an ongoing Jain religious event, police said on Saturday.

The Kalash, weighing about 760 grams of gold and embellished with nearly 150 grams of diamonds, rubies and emeralds, was used daily for prayers by businessman Sudhir Jain, who had been bringing it to the venue for the ceremony.

Police said the theft occurred earlier this week amid the bustle of arrangements for Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s visit to the Red Fort, where he attended the ‘Daslakshan Mahaparv’ as a special guest. When the rituals resumed after his departure, the Kalash was found missing from the stage.

CCTV footage reportedly shows the movements of a suspect during the event. Officials confirmed that the individual has been identified and an arrest is expected soon.

The religious program, which began recently, is scheduled to continue at the Red Fort until September 9. The incident has sparked concerns over security at the iconic UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also serves as the venue for the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address.

This is not the first time security lapses at the monument have been flagged. In an earlier case, seven Delhi Police personnel were suspended after a dummy bomb went undetected during a security drill ahead of Independence Day.

The latest theft has renewed demands for stricter security measures during large gatherings and religious functions inside the Red Fort complex.