Jaipur: The city police Thursday arrested a 37-year-old man for allegedly vandalising idols at a Shiva temple located inside the Lal Kothi vegetable market under Bajaj Nagar police station limits.
The incident occurred on the morning of April 11, sparking concern among locals after police received information about damage to religious idols. Given the sensitivity of the case, a special team was constituted to investigate the matter. The accused, identified as Rajesh Rao, a resident of Jatwara village in Sawai Madhopur, was traced and arrested following an intensive investigation that involved scanning footage from over 100 CCTV cameras. Police spotted a suspicious person exiting the temple and, over several days, mapped his movements and conducted door-to-door inquiries in the market and nearby areas, including Tonk Phatak. "We went to several places where labourers congregate near JP Phatak on the Tonk Road, which helped us identify the accused," said an official.
During interrogation, Rao admitted to the act. He told police he recently arrived in Jaipur from his village and was under severe mental stress due to unemployment. On April 11, after consuming alcohol, he entered the temple, broke down emotionally, and vandalised the idols in a moment of frustration.