India's own Robin Hood: The outlaw who looted millions but won the hearts of millions

Time of India

30-04-2025

Today, where most of the crime stories are often linked to greed and self-gain, once in a while, a story comes up that blurs the line between right and wrong. There have been instances of the scamsters funding orphanages and robbers offering alms at temples. Stories like these leave the public and law enforcement confused about whether such people should be condemned at once, or do their acts of charity deserve a footnote in their record of wrongs?
Can good deeds lead to wrongdoings? Is morality a matter of intent or action? These grey areas make good stories, especially when the main character is as attention-seeking as their crimes. A similar story has come up about a thief who is spiritually bent, but with a criminal record a mile long,
Meet Shivprasad, the devout thief
Shivprasad is not your typical career criminal who has been arrested recently by Ashok Nagar police in Kalaburagi of Karnataka. Though wanted in over 260 theft cases across the region, what sets him apart is not just his skill in housebreaking, but what he did with the stolen wealth. Setting himself apart from the regular thieves, he instead funded temple feasts, sponsored food for patients in hospitals, and donated lakhs to religious institutions, believing these acts would cleanse his sins.
Kalaburagi Police
Commissioner explained the unusual case: "This thief would target large homes, steal, and then try to redeem himself by donating to the poor, patients in hospitals, and sponsoring food worth lakhs in temples. He believed these acts would cleanse his sins."
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Undo
Shivprasad is full of tactics
Shivprasad's tactics were just as calculated as his charity. Before each heist, he would coat his fingertips with super glue like Fevikwik or Fevicol to avoid leaving fingerprints at crime scenes that helped him evade arrest for years. From stealing gold, silver, and wads of cash, his loot ran into the lakhs. But instead of spending it on a lavish lifestyle, he redirected much of it to what he believed were sacred purposes.
Among the evidence recovered was 412 grams of gold worth around ₹30 lakh, a significant portion of which had already been donated to temples. In one instance, he reportedly gave ₹5 lakh to a prominent temple in Maharashtra. In another, he organized a mahaprasad or a grand community meal in Latur district that fed thousands, none of whom suspected their meal was courtesy of a master thief.
Despite his criminal background, Shivprasad's exceptional tactics have led him to be compared to legendary figures. 'The Robin Hood of the Deccan?' some have asked, noting the parallels between his actions and the folklore hero who robbed the rich to give to the poor except this version comes with bhajans, prasads, and temple bells.
While the police aren't swayed by his intentions, the case has certainly made his deeds interesting.