Chennai: In connection with the secret storage of stolen idols at her residence in Puducherry, an Indian origin woman from France was arrested at the airport by the Idol Wing CID of the Tamil Nadu police. During investigation into the case of the missing idols the Idol Wing of the Tamil Nadu Police arrested Pushparajan, a close aide of Deenadayalan, an illegal antique dealer, in October 2016 and upon interrogation raided the residence in Colas Nagar, Puducherry. It was found that the residence belonged to a French couple. The woman is Ms.Marie Therese Anandi Vanina, an Indian origin woman from France. The searches were conducted in the house by the police based on Pushparajan’s confession. When the police conducted the raid in the residence they recovered 11 panchaloha idols, the value of which is several Crores. The recovered idols during the search operation were that of Lord Nataraja, Mahishasura Mardini, Somaskandar, Kalyanasundara, Lord Shiva, Parvathi and Amman. These idols belong to the Somanathesvara and Cholesvara temples in Melapadi village in Vellore. These Idols were stolen 30 years ago. ]]>
