Bhubaneswar, March 18 -- In a remarkable example of speedy justice under India's new criminal laws, the SDJM Court of Sambalpur has convicted an accused in a temple idol theft case within just 28 days from the date of the complaint.
The court found Rajanikant Bhainsal guilty under Sections 331(3) and 305(D) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sentenced him to two years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs.1,000.
According to the prosecution, on February 17, 2026, temple trustee Loknath Pandey lodged a complaint stating that a brass idol of Lord Ganesha weighing around 2 kg had been stolen from the Somnath Baba Temple at Balibandh, which falls under the jurisdiction of Sambalpur Town Police Station.
Acting promptly on the complaint, Sam...