It’s official, GO passed to shift all idol theft cases in the state to CBI

The GO number 885 follows the policy decision taken by the state government to shift the idol smuggling cases to CBI and informing the Madras High Court about the policy decision, on Wednesday.

The GO stated, “Some of the idols, investigated by the Special team, are antique dating back to thousands of years which could not be valued in terms of money. Some of the idol theft cases have inter-state and international ramification, that in few cases the idols have been traced back to foreign countries and the accused have to be extradited from foreign countries.”

“The investigation required pro-active involvement of various central agencies like Customs department, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Indian Consulates and Embassies abroad and therefore, the idol theft cases need to be investigated with all seriousness by highly competent, professional and impartial agencies, which could win the confidence of the High Court and public,” stated the GO. 

The Additional Director General of Police (Economic Offences Wing), Chennai, had recommended that all the under-investigation cases being investigated by the Idol Wing and all such future cases may be considered by the CBI. The recommendation of ADGP was accepted by the DGP and even the Additional Advocate General-II had informed the decision of the government to the High Court. 

The state government, after active consideration, had decided to transfer all the idol theft cases to the CBI under section 6 of Delhi Police Establishment Act of 1946. Also, the jurisdiction of the CBI would be extended to the whole of Tamil Nadu to investigate all the under-investigation cases and in all the future cases.