400-yr-old 'ashtadhatu' idol recovered, 2 arrested

New Delhi, June 29 (UNI) Police have recovered about 400-year-old 'ashtadhatu' idol of Lord Rama from ITO area in Central Delhi and arrested two persons in this connection.

The idol, measuring about one-and-a-half feet and weighing 18 kg, is worth about Rs two crore in the international market, the police said.

Aman Gupta, 30 and Ramakant Shukla, 45-- peddling the idol-- were arrested at Deendayal Upadhyaya Marg near ITO yesterday after a deal of Rs 50 lakh was made with them by sleuths of the Special Staff of Central District, following a tip-off.

During interrogation Shukla revealed that the idol had been given to him by one Sanjay who lived in Karawal Nagar.

Details about the idol, from where it was stolen and those involved in this racket, were being investigated.

UNI