Goa, Aug. 30 -- For nearly ten years, temples across Chhattisgarh's Durg district suffered mysterious thefts from their donation boxes. On Thursday, police finally cracked the case, arresting a 45-year-old man who admitted to stealing cash as an "act of revenge against god."

The accused, HIV-positive, told police he lost faith in religion after contracting the virus while serving a prison sentence in 2012. Blaming god for his condition, he targeted temples, stealing only cash while leaving ornaments untouched.

His last theft, at a Jain temple on August 23-24, led to his arrest. Police recovered stolen coins worth INR 1,282 and his scooter. Investigators used CCTV footage, the Trinayan app, and informers to trace his movements despite hi...