300 gram emerald lingam seized near Thanjai, two held

The idol wing, which got a tip off that some persons were trying to sell a precious lingam, alerted the Tiruvidaimarudur police, who conducted a vehicle check in their limits. During the drive, the cops intercepted a duo and conducted a thorough check of the vehicle and their person led to the seizure of the emerald lingam. 

Police said that S Kaliyamurthy (58), a farmer, was keeping the maragathalingam at his house and was doing puja to it regularly. He claimed that the 300gram idol measuring 6 inches in height, 5 inches was handed over to him by his ancestors. 

But owing to the bad financial condition of his family at present, Kaliyamurthy was looking out for a buyer to sell the precious piece. Meanwhile, he sought the help of N Vijayaraghavan (37) of Kurichi Main Road in Pandanallur to identify a buyer for the lingam. 

On Tuesday evening both Kaliyamurthy and Vijayaraghavan were on their way to Govindapuram reportedly to sell the maragathalingam when police detained them, sources added. 

AG Pon Manickavel, the IGP, Idol Wing CID, inspected the lingam. He later told the media persons that they had arrested the duo based on specific information that efforts were being made to sell an ancient emerald lingam. The police officer added that even if the lingam was used for puja in the house of Kaliyamurthy as claimed, it was mandatory to register such precious posse sions with the state government. 

“Since, Kaliyamurthy had no proper document for the idol, the duo was arrested,” Manickavel said. “We learnt that the duo tried to sell the emerald lingam for Rs 50 lakh,” he added. The arrested were produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Kumbakonam and later lodged in Tiruchy prison. The Idol Wing seized the emerald lingam.