CHENNAI: Four persons were arrested and 15 panchaloha idols worth `30 lakh seized from them at the Koyambedu bus terminus on Thursday. The idols were reportedly stolen from a Jain temple in Villupuram district.Based on a tip-off, sleuths of the Economic Offences Wing - Idol Wing, nabbed Sundarajan (25), Bhagyaraj (24) and Murugan (25) of Ural village and Shanmugam (28) of Rajapettai Street, Tindivanam, Villupuram district, while they were waiting at the northern entrance of the terminus. When the sleuths inspected the bags that the men were carrying with them, they found 11 panchaloha idols inside. Police said these idols were installed in a Jain temple in Edhanemmili village, Villupuram, in 1834.Based on the confession of the arrested persons, the police visited Edhanemmili and recovered four other panchaloha idols that were found buried in an agricultural land.Idols of Nemi Theerthangar, Vishaba Theerthangar, Shanthi Theerthanayanar, 24th Theerthanayanar and Thaagupali Theerthanayanar were among those recovered.According to police sources, the men stole the idols from a Neminathar Jain temple in Edhanemmili on August 29. A complaint in this regard was also filed by the temple priest Loganathan (66) and wife Rose Bai (60). The four persons were remanded in judicial custody.
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