Chennai, Aug 3:
In a swift and successful operation, the Idol Wing CID of the Tamil Nadu police foiled an idol smuggling bid, seized three antique metal idols valued at Rs seven crores and arrested five people near Sethiathope in Cuddalore district.
A release from the office of the DGP/Head of Police Force here last night said said police intercepted an illegal idol smuggling attempt near Sethiathope and effected the seizure.
Acting on specific and credible confidential information, a special team conducted a surveillance operation near the Sethiathope Crossroad Flyover on the National Highway-36 in Cuddalore District, when the team intercepted and surrounded five suspicious individuals who were moving in the area carrying plastic gunny bags.
Upon questioning and verification, the police recovered three antique metal idols from their possession and arrested all the 5 accused in connection with the attempted illegal transportation and smuggling of the idols.
Upon searching the bags, they seized 3 antique metal idols–Bhudevi idol (Measuring 56 cm in height and weighing 19 kg); Thirugnanasambandar idol, (Measuring 37 cm in height and weighing 10 kg) and Goddess Sivagami Sundari idol (Measuring 55 cm in height and weighing 12.40 kg).
Interrogation of the suspects revealed that while searching for potential buyers, they had cut and damaged portions of the idols to test the purity of the metal for gold content.
They were waiting at the location to hand over the idols to a buyer traveling from Kumbakonam to Chennai. When police apprehended them the arrested persons were identified as Rajalingam (38), (2) Muthuraj (40), Rajavel (50), Senthilkumar (49) and Suresh (34)–all hailing from Cuddalore district.
A case has been registered by the Idol Wing CID u/s 35(1) (e) and 106 Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, r/w Section 305 (d) Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The arrested accused, along with the First Information Report and the seized antique metal idols, were produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Egmore, Chennai, which remanded all the accused to judicial custody till August 14 on Saturday. They were later lodged in Puzhal Central Prison.
Further investigation is in progress to ascertain the origin of the idols, identify the temple from where they were stolen, and trace other persons involved in the idol smuggling network.