The police arrested four persons and seized a Panchaloha idol from them at Peddapuram in East Godavari district on Tuesday. The accused were produced before the Magistrate at Peddapuram sub-court on Wednesday.
According to DSP O. Aravinda Babu, the police acted on a tip off that a 14 kg Panchaloha idol worth Rs. 3 crore which was stolen from Narayanapur of Parlakimidi district in Odisha, was being sold in Nellore.
While the police were conducting vehicle checks on Tuesday night, four persons -- Vemagiri Ravi Kumar, Md. Bashiruddin, Prathipati Satyanarayana and Mahendrati Venkateswara Rao -- who were travelling in an autorickshaw tried to escape. The police nabbed them and during questioning they spilled the beans.
The DSP said the idol would be sent for tests to confirm whether it was made of Panchaloha or not.
The police were also suspecting the involvement of four constables in the episode.
