Burglar steals to build temple, lands in jail

I thought some famous personality from a particular school of thought in the past had stolen some gold statue of Lord Buddha from a Buddhist temple to build a famous temple and he was praised for his act.

So I guess may be the lawyer defending Kamalakannan can quote this historic event and Kamalakannan might be freed!

After all if someone else can be praised and revered for his act of stealing to build a temple why can't Kamalakannan escape on "religious technical grounds"?