Case filed 50 years after Big Temple idols were stolen

The police claimed that both idols, worth Rs 100 crore, have been kept in a private museum in another state and that they would be brought back. 

Former minister VV Swaminathan had lodged a complaint with the Idol Wing recently that both the idols had gone missing from the temple, Idol Wing DSP Venkatraman who held a preliminary inquiry said. Based on his complaint, the police have registered a case of theft. 

“The idols, each 75 cm tall, were stolen 50 years ago from the Peruvudayar temple aka the Brihadeeswara temple, a UNESCO monument. The idols were donated by Thennavan Moovanda Velan, then chief executive of the temple, along with 11 idols during the 29th regnal year of Rajaraja I,” Superintendent of Police T Senthil Kumar told the media. 

“Both the stolen idols were kept in the northwestern side of the Mahamandapam before they were looted, while the other idols are now in the temple where they were kept,” the Superintendent of Police said. 

The SP added that the bronze idols were valued at Rs 60 crore (Rajaraja I) and Rs 40 crore (queen). They were reportedly kept in a private museum in another state and the Idol Wing would investigate and bring them back, he added. 

Meanwhile, IGP (Idol Wing) A G Pon Manickavel, who conducted inquiries in Thanjavur in the evening, told media representatives that Swaminathan had gone to court for launching a search to find the idols and the Idol Wing got the papers and initiated a preliminary inquiry following which the case has been registered. 

Further investigations would start immediately, he added.