The Hindu : New Delhi News : Antique idols worth crores recovered

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 28, 2007
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Antique idols worth crores recovered

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Two antique “ashtadhatu” idols of Lord Mahavir worth about Rs. 1 crore each in the international market have been seized by the Crime Branch of the Delhi police.

A special team of the Crime Branch received information that a young man was looking for customers to sell two precious idols of Lord Mahavir. Acting on a tip-off that the suspect would come to Roshanara Bagh to meet a prospective buyer, the team under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanjay Bhatia laid a trap and arrested the man .

During interrogation, the accused identified himself as Omkar Nath, a resident of Etah in Uttar Pradesh. He told interrogators that he had received the idols from Shantu, a resident of Kassganj in Etah.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Muktesh Chander said Omkar has done Masters in commerce and holds a diploma in tours and travels.

He earlier joined a company as branch manager, but quit the job to start a business in Kolkata. About six months ago, he met Shantu who told him that he had two antique idols of Lord Mahavir that could be sold for crores of rupees. Shantu offered him 20 per cent share for helping him find a buyer.

“According to the Archaeological Survey of India, these idols are very precious. One of them, 19.5 cm high and 14 cm wide, is about 600 years old. The idol is of Lord Mahavir seated in padmasana. The other idol, 17.5 cm high and 13 cm wide, belongs to the 12th Century,” said Mr. Chander.

While A hunt has been launched for Shantu. , the police are checking the data-bases of the Central Bureau of Investigation and the National Crime Records Bureau to ascertain from where the idols had been stolen.

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