Dheenadhayalan’s grandson, doctor held in idol racket

DRI have also recovered several stolen antique idols and artefacts from the residences of the accused.

A DRI team raided the house of Balaji at T Nagar and Omkaram’s residence at Valasarawakkam after receiving a tip-off that several antique idols and artefacts were stored in their residences to be smuggled out of the country using forged Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) certificates. 

DRI officials said the accused, in their voluntary statement, have confessed that they had been dealing in the trade of antiques for a commission illegally. The accused have also told the investigators that they had arranged for ante-dated registration of various stolen antiques with the help of Udit Jain, based in New Delhi, by producing fake documents under the directions of Dheenadhayalan, who was arrested by the State Idol Wing in June this year. 

Based on the investigations, DRI arrested the duo and have remanded them in judicial custody.

DRI sources said the seized antiques, in stone, metal and in wood carvings dated back to several centuries and were mainly stolen from ancient temples in Tamil Nadu. The Chennai unit of the DRI had passed on information regarding Udit Jain, who acted as the middleman and was suspected to have arranged for the registration of stolen artefacts in New Delhi. Following the alert, the Mumbai DRI team intercepted Udit Jain in Mumbai and have arrested him.

DRI sources said simultaneous operations were conducted both in Mumbai and Chennai for the last three days to bust this idol smuggling racket. Further investigations in this case are on.