Ancient idols coming home to Tamil Nadu

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu police on Monday dispatched a team of police officials by train to Delhi to bring home the priceless ancient idols, which were handed over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, early this week.

The idols of Natraja and Ardhanareeswara were smuggled out of Tamil Nadu temples by international smuggler Subash Kapoor and sold to Australian galleries for crores of rupees.

Police officials from the idol wing of the TN economic offences wing, who had arrested Subbash Kapoor and found out during his confession that two of the ancient idols from Tamil Nadu temples were smuggled and sold to Australian galleries by him, were kept out of the function in New Delhi at which the Australian PM handed over the idols on Friday.

After initial hesitation, the state police headquarters gave the order for the team from the idol wing to leave for Delhi by train. The idols are expected to come home by air over the weekend.