Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Police's Idol Wing seized a 15th-century Lord Vishnu idol valued at Rs 2 crore on Saturday and arrested seven individuals involved in its attempted sale. The operation began on August 8, when police, acting on a tip-off, conducted a vehicle search on the Thanjavur-Trichy national highway. They intercepted a car and two two-wheelers, uncovering the 2.5-foot-tall Vishnu idol in the process.
The arrested suspects are Rajendran, Rajkumar, Dinesh, Jaishankar, Vijay, Harris, and Ajitkumar. Investigations revealed that the idol had been discovered by Dinesh's father 12 years ago while desilting the Thozhuvur riverbank. Instead of reporting the find, the father stored the idol in a cattle shed. Following his death, Dinesh and his accomplices attempted to sell the idol for Rs 2 crore but were apprehended before the transaction could be completed.
Authorities suspect that the idol may have been stolen from a temple. A theft case has been registered under Section 305(d) of the BNS, and the vehicles used in the smuggling attempt have been seized. Further investigations are underway. Earlier in July, the Tamil Nadu Idol Wing recovered six antique idols worth Rs 22 crore and arrested three individuals. The suspects had claimed they found the idols while digging land for house construction.
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