The State government is likely seek a CBI inquiry into the theft of idols belonging to 10th and 11th century Jain shrines from Moodbidiri in Dakshina Kannada district, which was reported in July this year.
Addressing reporters here on Wednesday, Minister for Youth Services and Fisheries K Abhayachandra Jain said that Chhattisgarh police Chief Ramnivas has written to the DG&IGP seeking a CBI probe into the incident as both national and international criminals are reportedly behind it.
Stating that the value of the 12 idols is over a few hundred crores, he said the main culprit, who has been caught by the State police, with the support of their Chhattisgarh counterparts, is not cooperating with the investigative agencies. Hence, a CBI probe was recommended, he explained.
He said the State police recovered only three idols from the accused Ghanashyam Das alias Santhosh Das and the remaining idols have allegedly been sold to some diamond merchants in Chhattisgarh. They, however, denied it, he added.
Law and Parliamentary Minister T B Jayachandra also wrote to the Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to order a CBI probe and the State government is expected to take a decision shortly, he noted.
Twelve of the 52 antique idols were stolen from the Siddhanta Pratima Darshan Basadi, one of the holiest Jain shrines in Moodbidri, in one of the country’s biggest heists of antiques.