JOIN USA 13th century idol of Lord Vishnu, worth around Rs one crore, has been seized by Delhi Police after arresting a 42-year-old man who was allegedly planning to sell it.
Israr–ul-Haque, hailing from Jaipur, was apprehended from Mori Gate on February 29 on a tip off that a person was travelling to Jaipur to sell antique idols, Joy Tirkey, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), said today.
"The Idol is of Lord Vishnu with four arms in standing position on a Lotus. There are ten small statues of men and women, two statues of elephants and two statues of horses around the main statue of Lord Vishnu. Probably, the idol belonged to the Sena Dynasty or the Deva Kingdom of medieval Bengal," he said. He said the idol was given to Haque by one Tapas, residing in Malda of West Bengal. The idol was reportedly stolen from a temple in Malda.
Haque works for one Shakeel who is into trading of gems and antiques. According to him, Shakeel has bought and sold a number of antique statues from Tapas and his gang in Malda. Shakeel has a past criminal record and was arrested for a similar offence in October 2009 in Delhi, Tirkey said.
A case under relevant sections of Antiquity and Art Treasures Act, 1972 and India Penal Code has been registered.