Hyderabad: Antique Panchaloha Buddhist idol was confiscated and 11 people involved in selling they were arrested near the bus stand in Suryapet on Monday.
Idol weighing 26.3 kg along with cash calculation machines, cars and 11 cellphones confiscated from the ownership of the defendant by police CCS along with the city of Suryapet based on a particular tip.
The man who has an idol has reached an agreement to sell it for Rs 30 Lakh, while buyers on the phone are looking at selling anywhere between Rs 1 Crore to Rs 2 Crore, police said.
“We have told archaeologists from the state government about idols confiscated.
Once they examine idols and provide reports related to their antique values, we will provide the same before the court,” Suryapet SP S Rajendra Prasad said.
The defendant who was arrested was M Venu Gopal (42), an entrepreneur; K Venkata Nagsimha Rao (48), Entrepreneurs; R Purushotham (37), Entrepreneurs; Ch naveen babu, driver; B Bhanu Prakash (36), Personal Workers; MD Younus (52), TV mechanics; K Chennaiiah (68), retirees; K laxmi narayana, driver; U sravan kumar (23), driver; SK Nagul Meera (49), driver; and n Srikanth (29), workers from Andhra Pradesh.
The main defendant, M Venu Gopal, who is an entrepreneur from Nandigama City in Krishna Regency, has bought Panchaloha Buddha Idol five years ago from an unknown person in the Guntur District Piduguralla District for Rs 5 Lakh.
“Venu Gopal bought it believed that his presence at home would take him prosperity.
However, when his condition financially did not improve, he decided to sell it to Narsimha Rao for Rs 30 Lakh,” SP said.
Narsimha Rao together with his colleagues attacked the agreement with MD Younus to sell the same for Rs 1 Crore and Younus in turn discussing with Chennaiiah and others to sell idols for Rs 2 Crore.
“All who were accused wanted to meet in a neutral place to complete the transaction.
They agreed to meet in Suryapet and we arrested them when they negotiate in payment mode,” SP said.