Idol wing sleuths recover idols worth Rs 12 crore from Pondy

CHENNAI: The investigators had stumbled upon the idols during the course of investigation in connection with a case registered in the year 2016. Based on reliable information that antique metal idols with no legal documents were kept at a premise on Suffren Road, Pondicherry, an idol wing team from Chennai searched the said address on Tuesday and seized 3 antique metal idols of Nataraja, Veendhara Shiva and Vishnu.

During probe, the sleuths found that these idols were previously in possession of the late Joseph Colombani of Puducherry. But, no valid legal documents regarding the ownership of these idols were available at the premises. These idols are believed to be more than 600 years old and are strongly suspected to have been stolen from Hindu temples prior to 1980. The idols are said to have belonged to transition period of Chola and Vijayanagara dynasty. The value of Nataraja idol which is 2 ½ feet height and 23 Kg weight is estimated to be Rs 6 crore while the value of other 2 idols which are about 2 ½ feet height and 15 kg weight are said to be Rs 3 crore each, a press release from the idol wing said.

Investigation regarding the origin/temple to which these idols belong is under way.

During the course of investigation, it has also come to light that the accused made an attempt to smuggle the idols to France long back but could not succeed for various reasons, added the press note.