Surat: The city police, in two separate cases, arrested two sculptors for making and selling Ganesh idols made of POP, which are banned.

Pal police conducted raids at two sculptors’ warehouses. The first raid occurred on Gauravpath Road, where police found over eight POP idols measuring between 8 and 16 feet, which were intended for sale. Sculptor Shreerang Surve was arrested during this operation.

In the second raid at a warehouse in the Palanpur Patia area, police found more than eight Ganesh idols ranging from 8 to 15 feet in height, leading to the arrest of Bhavik Patel. Both sculptors were released later that evening.

Surat police commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut had issued a notification regarding the sale of idols for the Ganesh Chaturthi festival, which begins on September 7. The notification states that mud idols must not exceed 9 feet in height, while idols made from materials like POP and fiber should be under 5 feet. Smaller idols should be immersed in residential societies, while POP idols and those under 5 feet must be immersed in artificial ponds created by the Surat Municipal Corporation. Idols taller than 5 feet should be immersed in the sea. DeshGujarat