Antique Lord Mahavir idol seized, 2 smugglers arrested

Lucknow, Aug 25 (UNI) Police have seized an antique Lord Mahavir's 'ashtadhatu' (eight-metal alloy) idol estimated at Rs four crore in the international market and arrested two smugglers in Saadatganj area here late last night.

Police today said Gurdayal of Pilibhit and Karam-ud-din of Kushinagar districts were nabbed from the Kothari Bandhi trisection possessing the precious idol, said to be 250 years old.

The Lord Mahavir idol weighs four kgs, which the duo claimed had been given to them by Deepak of Nepal for selling.

Meanwhile, the duo were today produced in court and later sent to jail. Further investigations were on.

UNI