Additional Superintendent of Police R. a team of officers led by Raja Ram and P Ashok Natarajan on Thursday searched Langwal Homes at 7th intersection in Arulananda Nagar, Thanjavur. He NA. Questioned the son of NS Arun due diligence, at the age of about 80, at home. Arun told the police that his father kept an ancient Panna Lingam in a bank locker in Thanjavur and then handed it over to the police for investigation.
The weight of the lingam was 530 grams and the height was 8 cm. Arun himself claimed to be unaware of how and from where Samiyappan got the antiquity. The ADGP said that gemologists have estimated the value of the statue at Rs 500 crore. The ADGP said, “We have confirmed this from patrons like Dharmapuram Adhinam, who have confirmed its authenticity. We will have to do scientific analysis and identify the temple to which it belongs.” On the basis of the police inspector’s report Murugesan, A case has been registered. However, the co-founder of the India Pride Project, S Vijay KumarCalling the Rs 500 crore estimate a myth. “Panna lingam is being stolen from temples and monasteries in South India since the 80s,” he said.
Police are probing whether the Shivling was the same as that of A. had disappeared from Shiva Temple at Thirukuvalai in Nagapattinam district in 2016. A senior official said Samyappan is cooperating with the probe and they are inquiring about his background. The Shivling is likely to be produced in the Kumbakonam court on Saturday.
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