New York returns two smuggled idols to TN

The AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu could get back two of the panchaloha idols that were stolen from Varadaraja Perumal temple at Suttamali village in Ariyallur district. The idols of Bhudevi and Chakrattalvar, priced at Rs 11.75 crore, were smuggled out of the country by Subhash Kapoor gang. The idols were given back to the State by museum officials in New York. The idols were handed over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he last visited New York. Soon the idols would be presented before the Kumbhakonam court before being sent to the temples concerned. In all, the US had returned eight idols. The six others belonged to Kashmir and Mahdya Pradesh. The Varadaraja Perumal idols were stated to have been brought back by the police from Delhi on May 28.