The Idol Wing-CID has seized 10 ancient idols worth several crores from the house of an art collector at Raja Annamalaipuram in Chennai.
On a tip-off, a special team searched Shobha Durairajan’s house and seized 10 idols around 400 years old.
Idol Wing-CID Additional Director General of Police Shailesh Kumar Yadav said that among the idols seized was a Vinayagar metal idol, suspected to have been stolen from a temple in Natramangalam. After investigation, the idol will be handed over to the temple.
“Our investigation revealed that these idols were purchased from antique dealer Deendayalan of Aparna Art Gallery, Mares Gate Road, Alwarpet on various dates between 2008 and 2015,” he added. The Idol Wing-CID had seized seven ancient idols from the house last December.