The idol wing police confiscated the idols of Meenakshi and Rishabhdevar and arrested seven people including the mastermind of idol smuggling, Karthik from Chennai.
A special team led by Superintendent of Police Rajaram went to Melmaruvathur in Kancheepuram district on the basis of a tip-off that some idols may be smuggled from Sitamur in the early hours of Sunday.
The police team won the trust of the idol smugglers by posing as buyers and the gang brought the idol of Meenakshi Amman on a two-wheeler.
After ascertaining the ancient value of the idol, the special police team identified D. Karthik and B. Murthy was arrested.
Based on the investigation, the Idol Wing police arrested five more persons – S Sundaramurthy, V Kumaran, M Ashok, R Arivarasu and M Abdul Rehman.
found in vellore
The police team recovered the idol of Rishabhdevar from a house in Vellore district.
All the arrested persons have been booked under the Prevention of Idol Theft Act and produced before the Judicial Magistrate along with both the idols.
Idol Wing Police is investigating the past of the gang and its idol smuggling network.
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