Kingpin of antique TN idol racket surrenders

Deenadayalan, the kinggpin of the racket involving smuggling of sculptures and idols of the Chola era, has surrendered before police.
"Deenadayalan surrendered before us in the presence of his advocate last night," Inspector General of Police, Idol Wing, A G Pon Manickavel told reporters here today.
The IG said: "Two temples have been washed out (of its belongings like sculptures and idols) and there is a huge dump of antique sculptures inside his residence."
He said police would question Deenadayalan on the cognizable offences against him involving smuggling of idols.
Deenadayalan's surrender comes days after a notice seeking his immediate appearance was put out by police at his residence here after he remained incommunicado for some time following the unearthing of the racket.

Idol Wing-CID police had busted an idol smuggling gang, arrested three persons and seized antique sculptures worth over Rs 50 crore on May 31 from Deenadayalan's house in upscale Alwarpet here.

The arrested was remanded to judicial custody on May 31.
Police had conducted searches for three days in Deenadayalan's house and unearthed a cache of stone and bronze idols, sculptures and paintings, besides others objects.
Former Director of Tamil Nadu Archeaology Department R Nagaswamy who had inspected the sculptures and idols on the request of police had said all the seized items on the whole belonged to the Chola period.

Among them are Shiva in the form of Tripurantaka Murthy, and statues of Nardhana Ganapathi and Devi. All of which were priceless, Nagaswamy, a noted authority on archaelogy, had told reporters.