Police seize 500-year-old Shiva idol worth over Rs 500 crores after posing as 'wealthy antique collectors'

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu police have nabbed smugglers who tried to sell a 500-year-old Shivling for Rs 25 crore. The sellers brought a single-faced ling with a metal nagabharanam. The policemen of the Idol Wing of the Tamil Nadu Police posed as wealthy people interested in buying the antique. Idol Wing CID DGP Dr Jayanth Murali led the operation. Police had approached vendors in Poonamallee near Chennai to buy the rare idol.

The shopkeepers, who did not have any suspicion on the policemen showed them the idol and were nabbed at the spot. The idol also shows damaru, a trishoola and a snake. According to experts, the idol is over 500 years old. They also suspect that it may have come from Nepal. Police said they are investigating further and things will be more clear after making more arrests.