Antique Tamil Nadu idol racket: 159 stone sculptures seized

Chennai: As many as 159 more stone sculptures of various deities have been seized from godowns of kingpin of an idol smuggling racket in continuing raids after the illegal antique trade was busted recently, police said today.

“We have seized 159 stone sculptures, five paintings, 28 round shaped stone artifacts and two lamps,” Idol Wing DSP P A Sundaram told reporters here.

The raids were conducted today and yesterday in two godowns run by Deenadayalan, the alleged kingpin of the racket who surrendered to police on June 3, at upscale Alwarpet locality here after getting court orders.

The searches were carried out by three teams, each headed by a Deputy Superintendent of Police.

“In aggregate, we have seized 230 stone sculptures including the 159 seized now. Total number of paintings seized are 156 and metal idols 50,” Sundaram said.

He said police personnel had been deployed at the godowns where raids were held.

The Idol wing police had on May 31 busted the idol smuggling gang, arrested three persons and seized antique sculptures said to be worth over Rs 50 crore from Deenadayalan’s house here.

Sundaram said Deenadayalan was being questioned. “He may be arrested. All processes as stipulated by the law are being carried out,” he said.

A team of archaeologists also inspected the seized idols, artifacts and sculptures recently.

Renowned archaeologist and former Director of Tamil Nadu Archaeology Department R Nagaswamy after inspecting the sculptures and idols on the request of police had said, “On the whole, all stone and bronze sculptures belong to the Chola period.” PTI