Illegally possessed two 300-year-old temple idols recovered in Chennai

Chennai, Sept 1: The Idol Wing of Tamil Nadu Police has recovered two 300-year-old idols from a residence in Chennai, on Monday (Aug 29). After confidential intel was received that a resident of Chennai had stolen antique idols, officials from the Tamil Nadu Idol Wing Police launched an investigation.

 

 

 

 

After a thorough search of the residence, the Idol Wing officials unearthed two idols, a Mariamman idol in a sitting position and a Nataraja idol in a dancing position. According to the Idol Wing, Sreedharan, the expert who inspected the idols, "The two idols are antique and more than 300 years old." The officials also shared that the seized idol, which is worth several crores of rupees in the international market, was sent to remand.

 

 

 

 

 

According to the officials, the resident present at the location during the investigation said that her parents possessed the idols even before she was born and hence, had no idea about the origin of the idols. The Idol wing said, “When the possessee was asked to produce papers regarding the origin of the idols, she could not do so. The idols have markings and slots for fixing them on temple palanquins, for carrying them during festive occasions. Hence, they are indisputably temple idols.”

 

 

An FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc). Besides, the officials are now in the process of tracing the temples from where the idols were stolen, and also attempting to identify the accused who stole the idols.