Southern States - Andhra Pradesh   

14 antique idols seized

By Our Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA OCT. 3. The city police have busted a racket comprising three persons allegedly indulging in smuggling of "panchaloha'' idols of antique value besides diamonds and precious stones all valued at more than Rs 1 crore. The arrested persons Shaik Mastan Ali (35), Vallabhasetty Gangaram (36) and Karri Ramu (44) all belong to East Godavari district. Fourteen antique idols, including four idols of Lord Maha Vishnu, an ivory idol of Lord Ganesha, Lord Rama and an idol of Lord Buddha in a rare reclining posture were seized from the arrested persons while they were allegedly trying to dispose them of at Paykapuram in the city on Friday, City Police Commissioner N V Surendra Babu told a news conference here.

About 120 pieces of diamond and other precious stones were also recovered from the possession of the arrested persons.

According to Mr Surendra Babu during interrogation the gang leader, Shaik Mastan, disclosed that they had procured the idols from one Toto Veeraaju of Gokavaram, dealing with the sale of tamarind in shandies of East Godavari district and Kanthi Nageswara Rao, a goldsmith of Kakinada. Investgation was in progress to verify the involvement if any of Veeraju and Nageswara Rao in the smuggling racket. Preliminary enquiries had led to the claim that the duo was in possession of the antique pieces as part of their ancestaral property and were apparently not aware of the legal implications in disposing of the antique idols as per Section 20 of the Treasure Trove Act, the Commissioner said.

He said that investigations also revealed that the diamonds and precious stones were secured from one Amalodu Rambabu, a goldsmith of Rajahmundry to whome they were said to be given by one Bhaskar, doing business in diamonds and stones of Rajahmundry. The precious stones are valued at Rs 4.5 lakhs.

Mr Surendra Babu complimented the North Circle CI, D V Nageswara Rao, Paykapuram SI Varma and constable Sesha Reddy of Nunna Rural police in successfully working on various clues resulting in the busting of the gang.

The case is being investigated under the supervision of the ACP, Division-II P Krishna Rao.

`A non-issue'

The Commissioner dismissed as a "non-issue'' the row between the city police and the Kanakadurga temple devesthanam over the former's insistence on collection of Rs 35 lakhs as user charges for security arrangements.

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