June 2, 2016
Barely two days after seizing 34 idols, police today seized more than 100 idols from the same house in Alwarpet.
Armed with a court order, a team of police officials led by Inspector General Pon Manickavel broke open the house and seized the idols that were kept in two rooms. They were meant to be sent to Europe and the U.S. through Mumbai port. The owner of the house, Deenadayalu, is still absconding.
According to police sources, a film actress was suspected to be involved in the smuggling racket.
Deenadayalan has been running an art gallery in Teynampet since 1995. In 2002 he had taken idols of Lord Ardanareeswarar and six other idols to a dealer in Mumbai from where they were sent to a gallery in New York.. A few antique idols were also sent to Australia.
The seized idols have been handed over to the Icon Centre in Tiruvottiyur, managed by the State HR & CE department, for further investigation.