Went to Rajasthan to treat child,returned with antique idol

Incidentally,Crime Branch officers had received a call from a resident of Rajasthan on Thursday evening,claiming that an idol of the same description has been stolen from a temple there. “We are trying to verify if this is the same idol,” said Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sanjay Bhatia.

Acting on a tip-off,police laid a trap near CTC Mall on Ring Road,Maharani Bagh,and apprehended two persons — identified as Shiv Taj Singh (54) and Sanjay Kumar (31). They were taken into custody,and later booked,after they failed to explain how they had procured the idol in their possession.

When questioned,Shiv Taj Singh said he was employed as a cab driver,and had gone to Palwal in Haryana for getting his daughter treated. “Shiv was told by his relatives that a maulvi in Palwal would help treat his daughter. He met the maulvi five-six months ago. During the course of his daughter’s treatment,he met the maulvi a couple of times — during which they became friendly. The maulvi told him that he was in possession of an antique idol,which he wanted to sell,” said Bhatia.

Shiv reportedly convinced the cleric that he could find potential buyers,considering that his profession entailed meeting tourists regularly. “The maulvi allowed Shiv to take the idol after he gave him Rs 1.25 lakh as deposit. Shiv was supposed to sell it for Rs 7.5 crore. Shiv brought the idol to Delhi and had contacted two of his friends — Manoj and Sanjay. We arrested them just before they could sell off the idol,on Thursday. Besides searching for the maulvi,we are checking with the CBI and the National Crime Records Bureau to identify the source of the idol,” said Bhatia. The statue is 21.5 cm in height and 16.5 cm in width.