HIV+ man held for temple loots in Chhattisgarh, says he wanted revenge on god

A 45-year-old HIV-positive man in Chhattisgarh has been arrested for a decade-long string of temple thefts in Durg. Calling his infection an “act of god,” he told police he stole from temple donation boxes to “take revenge for his fate and show god his place.” Authorities said he contracted HIV during a year-long prison term after his arrest in a 2012 assault case.

Police confirmed he has confessed to at least 10 temple thefts in Durg town and nearby areas, though they suspect he may be linked to more incidents. Investigators are reviewing CCTV footage to gather additional evidence.

The most recent theft occurred when he broke into a Jain temple on the outskirts of Durg on the night of August 23–24. He was detained the next day and later remanded to 14-day judicial custody following his formal arrest.


The accused admitted to police that he lost faith in god after contracting HIV. Durg SP Vijay Agrawal said the man deliberately chose temples as targets because he wanted to “give vent to his anger at god.” Agrawal also stated, “He has shown signs of mental instability.”

Unemployed for years, the man relied entirely on stolen money for survival. Initially, he targeted temples within Durg but expanded his reach after purchasing a two-wheeler, Agrawal added.

[With TOI inputs]