Priest arrested for stealing gold ornaments from temple

Pedakakani police have arrested a 26-year-old priest in connection to the theft of gold mangalsutras from Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple in Pedakakani in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh and recovered around 68 grams of gold.The accused was identified as Kondaveeti Randeep, son of Nataraju, a resident of Pathuru village in Pedakakani mandal. He had been working as an contract archaka at the temple.Guntur North DSP Ch. Murali Krishna, Inspector T. Peda Narayana Swamy, Sub-Inspectors Ch. Suresh and D. Ramakrishna and others addressed a press conference at the police station on Wednesday, following the arrest of the accused Randeep.According to the police, Randeep was familiar with the temple premises and its layout, and would observe the areas around the sanctum. On August 18, 2026, he alleg