New Delhi   

Idol recovered

Staff Reporter

Delhi Police Crime Branch officers with the Lord Mahavira idol recovered from accused Manoj Soni (face covered), in New Delhi on Tuesday. Photo: Anu Pushkarna

NEW DELHI: An antique idol of Lord Mahavira, valued at about Rs. 2 crores, has been recovered by the Crime Branch of the Delhi police from a goldsmith at Maurice Nagar in North Delhi. The accused has been arrested.

Dating back to 8th Century A.D., the 19 cm high "ashtadhatu" idol has two standing lion figures carved on its pedestal.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Neeraj Thakur, a special team of the Crime Branch recently received a tip-off that a man with an idol of Lord Mahavir was looking for a prospective buyer.

The police learnt that the suspect would come to Maurice Nagar to meet a tout in this connection.

Subsequently a team led by Assistant Commissioner of Police Swatantra Kumar laid a trap near Sri Ram Research Institute and spotted the suspect waiting for his contact. The police arrested the person after they recovered the antique idol from his bag.

During interrogation, the accused identified himself as Manoj Soni and told the police that he worked for a South Delhi jeweller as a goldsmith.

"About a year ago, Manoj came in contact with a person who told him that he had an antique idol of Lord Mahavira and offered him 50 per cent share of the money if he could help dispose it of. Lured by the prospect of making quick money, Manoj agreed to find a customer for the idol," said Mr. Thakur.

The police are scanning the Central Bureau of Investigation database to ascertain from where the idol was stolen.

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