Man arrested with idol worth Rs 5 cr

Based on a tip-off that a man in Salem is trying to sell an old Amman idol, a team headed by Rajaram, additional deputy superintendent of police (ADSP), Idol Wing, rushed to Salem and secured one Rajasekar of Gangavalli.

The idol which he was planning to sell for Rs 5 crore was seized. The idol, made of panchaloha and around 1.5 feet in height, weighs around 6.5 kilograms, said an Idol Wing officer. He has been arrested and further investigation is on to ascertain how he came in possession of the idol and who he was planning to sell it to.

Rajasekar has been booked under Sections 41(1) and 102 of CrPC and 454 (2) (house-breaking ), 457(2) (trespassing), 380(2) (theft) of IPC apart from 25(2) of AAT Act.

The Idol Wing sleuths said that they laid a trap by contacting the accused over phone posing as brokers to buy the idol.