Antique idol racket: Sculptures are of Chola period

Several stone and bronze sculptures and idols seized by police in a raid busting an idol smuggling racket belonged to the Chola period, an acclaimed archeologist said here today.
Idol Wing-CID police had on May 31 busted an idol smuggling gang, arrested three persons, seized antique sculptures said to be worth about Rs 50 crore from a house in upscale Alwarpet here.
Police, on the lookout for the kingpin Deenadayalan, today raided some more rooms in the same house, which was used as a hideout by the gang, by breaking open the locks.
On today's raid, Inspector General of Police, Idol Wing, A G Pon Manickavel told reporters: "There are 34 metal (bronze) idols, 42 (antique) paintings, we will continue the search and end it tomorrow."

Former Director of Tamil Nadu Archeaology Department, R Nagaswamy after inspecting the sculptures and idols at the house on the request of police said, "On the whole, all stone and bronze sculptures belong to the Chola period."
"Among them are statues of Shiva in the form of Tripurantaka Murthy, and Nardhana Ganapathi and Devi. All of them are priceless," Nagasamy, a noted authority on archeology, told reporters here.

Asked if he inspected the idols seized on May 31 as well, he replied in the affirmative.
"Idols are now being catalogued at the spot (house) and the artifacts taken into custody by police," he said.

Police had earlier arrested Maan Singh, Kumar and Rajamani and they were remanded to judicial custody on May 31.
They are on the lookout for Deenadayalan and investigating if the gang had any links with other idol smugglers including Subash Kapoor.