Government trying to protect idol smugglers, says PMK

In a statement on Thursday, founder of PMK S Ramadoss said that it was shocking that the government transferred Pon Manickavel, who was heading the Idol Wing. “It is highly condemnable that since the police officer accused the government of being lethargic and there is no proper infrastructure for placing idols in the court,” he said, adding that the government immediately transferred him for revealing the facts.

Stating that Manickavel played an important role in retrieving idols from various countries, Ramadoss said that Tamil Nadu has become the hub of idol smuggling. “This bears testimony to the fact that the IG intensified his investigation and retrieved the idols of Rajarajan Cholan and his consort, which went missing 40 years ago,” he said. 

He added that the state government deliberately transferred him, at a time, when he was preparing to retrieve all the missing idols from the state. The government, in fact, should have supported him and provided all possible help.

“Going by the present scenario, the involvement of politicians from both prominent parties is suspected,” the PMK leader said and urged the state government to arrest those persons involved in idol smuggling.