Sleuths seize 2 antique idols from Anna Nagar, probe under way

CHENNAI: Idol Wing sleuths seized two antique idols - one of a Mariamman and a dancing Nataraja - from a house in Anna Nagar.

Mariamman idol in a sitting position, and a Natarajar idol in a dancing position were found at the place 5th main road in Anna Nagar.

According to the sleuths the two idols, worth several crores of rupees, must be three hundred years old and the woman who was in possession of the idols had no documents to show, from where she her parents got it.

The idols have markings and slots for fixing them on temple palanquins for carrying them during festive occasion, thus proving they are indisputably temple idols. The fact that they are antique idols probably stolen from temples and sold to the present possessor and the absence of proper papers to reveal their provenance causes illegal possessions liable for confiscation. And, the Idol Wing CID seized the illegal idols, said a press release from the idol wing.

An investigation is under way to find the temples, from which the idols got stolen, and the accused who stole the idol and their antiquity. An expert, who inspected the idols, informed the Idol Wing team that the two idols are antique and more than 300 years old. The wing will be able to obtain details pertaining to the actual provenance of the seized idol only after tracking and securing the accused who committed the theft.