ASI inspects seized idols to ascertain antique value

The team comprising ASI south zone regional director G Maheswari, former ASI director D Dayalan, former superintending archaeologist T Sathyamoorthy, professor B Sheela of Thanjavur Tamil University and former curator R Balasubramanian collected samples and photographed the idols for further examination, said the police. 

The experts wanted to find out the probable age of the idols kept in enclosure at the Idol Wing office premise in Guindy. After examining the idols for nearly two hours, the expert team also interacted with the officials from the Idol Wing. 

Sources termed the inspection as a routine exercise. “Usually we seek the help of experts to make sure the seized the idols are really antique. Some of the idols were not checked because of various reasons and on Tuesday those idols were inspected,” an Idol Wing official said. 

Officials noted that the 22 idols were part of at least 11 cases handled by the wing in the last few years.