CID seized a 15th-century Thirugnanasambandar metal idol, valued at about 1 crore,
Madurai : The Tamil Nadu Idol Wing CID seized a 15th-century Thirugnanasambandar metal idol, valued at about ₹1 crore, from a car in Madurai and arrested three men. Acting on specific information, a team kept surveillance near Yettayapuram Thoppu at the Madurai-Tirumangalam four-way junction on Sept 29. Police intercepted an Innova around 1.55 pm and recovered the standing idol along with its pedestal. It measured about three feet and weighed 52.180 kg. The arrested men were identified as Jeyavelan, 48, Pandiyarajan, 37, and Akbar, 52, all residents of Madurai. Based on a report submitted by Sub-Inspector R Ramasamy, the Idol Wing CID registered a case on Sept 30 under relevant provisions of the BNSS and BNS. The accused, the idol and the vehicle were produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Madurai, who remanded the three men in judicial custody until Oct 13.
Idol Wing officials identified it as a representation of Thirugnanasambandar from the Vijayanagara period. Inspector D Jeyakumar has been appointed investigating officer. Police are probing the idol’s origin, trying to identify the temple from which it was allegedly stolen and tracing others suspected to be part of the trafficking network.