Historic Tekari State Court Burgled: Idols and Jewelry Stolen
Thieves looted Ashtadhatu idols and gold jewelry from the historic Tekari State Court temple in Raebareli.
In a daring late-night heist, thieves struck the historic Tekari State Court in Tekari Dadu village, Raebareli, making off with priceless religious artifacts and precious metals. The burglars targeted the family temple of Raja Akhileshwari Pratap Singh, leaving the premises ransacked and the local community in shock.
Massive Loot at the Royal Temple
The perpetrators gained entry through the rear of the premises under the cover of darkness on Thursday night. Their primary target was the sacred family temple, where they successfully stole Ashtadhatu idols of Shiva-Parvati, Ganesha, and Lakshmi. In addition to the sacred statues, the thieves made off with a gold crown belonging to the Goddess Durga idol and various silver ornaments.
Local residents, witnessing the extent of the devastation, estimate the total value of the stolen items to be worth crores. According to onlookers, the thieves were so thorough that virtually nothing of value was left behind in the temple sanctum.
Palace Ransacked: Eight Doors Forced Open
The criminal activity extended far beyond the temple walls. The intruders proceeded to ransack the interior of the royal palace, cutting through the locks of approximately eight different doors. The search was widespread, covering various rooms, the kitchen, and the bedrooms.
During the investigation, authorities recovered several swords at the crime scene. Police are currently working to determine whether these weapons were part of the estate's historical collection or if they were brought to the site by the intruders.
High-Level Police Investigation Underway
Raja Akhileshwari Pratap Singh, who resides in Lucknow, was informed of the theft via a telephone briefing from the temple priest, Krishnanand. His son, Aishwarya Pratap Singh, arrived at the historic site on Friday afternoon to assess the extensive damage caused by the burglars.
The response from law enforcement has been significant. Deeh Police Station In-charge Jitendra Mohan Saroj arrived with a contingent of officers to secure the area. Due to the high-profile nature and severity of the crime, specialized teams—including the SOG, surveillance units, and a dog squad—have been deployed to assist in the hunt for the suspects.
While police have questioned the priest, the estate manager Brijesh Kumar Srivastava, and the two watchmen on duty during the night, no concrete leads have been established. A formal case has been registered at the Deeh police station following a complaint by the estate manager. Under the direct supervision of SP Ravi Kumar, multiple police teams are currently scouring the region to track down the suspects and verify the full extent of the stolen inventory.