7 idol theft cases from Srivilliputhur transferred to Kumbakonam court

It is said there are 531 idol theft cases registered by various police stations across the state and the Idol wing police have registered 19 cases.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court ordered the transfer of all the cases to Chief Judicial Magistrate Court in Kumbakonam and directed that the probe should be continued by A G Pon Manickavel, IGP who was transferred to Railway police.

However, the state Government had filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court against the High Court order which was subsequently dismissed. Following this, A G Pon Manickavel was given full additional charge of Idol Wing CID and the cases are now being transferred to Kumbakonam court.

Meanwhile, the international antique smuggler Subash Chandra Kapoor, one of the accused in theft of six bronze idols from Pazhavur Shiva temple was produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate court on Monday. The court adjourned the case to September 20.