Chennai, Feb 19 (BPNS)
The Idol Wing of the Tamil Nadu CB- CID has seized 3 idols and several rare manuscripts from a shop in Alawrpet, Chennai on Friday evening.
There were 11 ancient manuscripts with Buddhist inscriptions on it and apart from this 3 idols were also seized. Police said that they are yet to ascertain the origin and the period of the manuscripts and it is being verified.
The Idol Wing of the Tamil Nadu CB-CID conducted raids in the shop on specific inputs and found that the idols and the manuscripts were concealed in the basement of the shop and the shop owner was not able to provide valid information regarding the idols and manuscripts.
Archeological Survey of India (ASI) officials who inspected the idols said that these idols dated back to the Chola period. An expert from the ASI who verified the idols said that except for one idol of Nataraja the other two idols and the manuscripts are of antique value and will fetch more than Rs 10 crore in the international market.
The idol wing has already passed on the photos of the seized idols to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department to find out whether these idols belonged to any temples under the department in the state.
