Chennai: Sleuggells of Chennai Air Customs has won 400-year-old brass idols, which they allegedly prepared to be smuggled out of the country, from a house in Kancheepuram on Tuesday.
Idol high 5,25ft with a weight of 130kg is the largest confiscated by customs so far.
Archaeological survey of Indian officials (ASI) said the idol could be given a date in the Vijayanagara-Nayaka period based on the details of iconography.
The press release said the idol had a ‘pureic’ design and wear on it showed that it might have been used for a long time.
It was sent by an exporter from Chennai to Kancheepuram because it was updated according to client requirements.
The ganesha metal idol of this size is considered rare because these statues are mainly made of stone.
“The holes in the feet of idol make it ideal for the temple ceremony,” said the statement.
A customs official said the idol was tracked after input about efforts to smuggle antiques abroad.
“The idol consignment came to export at the airport and we doubt that it could be an antique part, but not.
We traced the sender to the house in Kancheepuram and found this idol.”