The team of officials headed by Tahsildar Shanthi, on vehicle check duty at Kollidam Checkpost near Sirkazhi, stumbled upon the idols when they stopped the car in which Masong Jayendra was travelling to Chennai from Kumbakonam, a hub of bronze idols.
Jayendra said he was doing the business for the past 20 years and claimed he had receipts for the 21 idols which he had procured in Kumbakonam.
However as the documents were found inadequate, the idols were seized, officials said.