Acting on specific intelligence received by Inspector G. Umarani of the Idol Wing CID's Kancheepuram Range, a special team was formed under the supervision of the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Idol Wing CID, North Zone. The team mounted surveillance near Thimmarajan Pettai bus stop in Walajabad taluk on the evening of June 24.

Around 6.30 pm, police spotted three men behaving suspiciously, one of them carrying a cloth bag. When officers approached them, the trio allegedly attempted to flee but were apprehended.

A search of the bag led to the recovery of a metal idol of Goddess Amman measuring 30.5 cm in height and 16 cm in width, weighing about 2.3 kg. During interrogation, the suspects were unable to produce documents or provide a satisfactory explanation for possessing the idol. Preliminary inquiries suggest the idol was stolen from a temple or place of worship in Tamil Nadu.

The arrested men were identified as Premkumar (33) of Thellimedu in Chengalpattu, Purushothaman (33) of Athur Vadapathi in Chengalpattu, and Vignesh (36) of Nathapettai in Kancheepuram. They were arrested on June 24 and later remanded to 14 days of judicial custody until July 9.

A case was registered by the Idol Wing CID on June 25 under relevant provisions. The seized idol and the FIR were produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Egmore.

Further investigation is being carried out by Inspector M. Deivanayagi of the Idol Wing CID, Villupuram Range, to trace the temple from which the idol was stolen and to determine whether the accused were part of a larger idol-smuggling network.