Seven sentenced for three years in idol theft case

Madras High Court Bench here today awarded three year rigorous imprisonment to seven persons in connection with the theft of idols from Vishwanathaswamy temple at Anaikudi near Kumbakonam in 1990.
Justice P N Prakash, allowing an appeal filed by Idol Theft Prevention Wing challenging their acquittal by a trial court, observed that the lower court had not given satisfactory reasons for rejecting evidence provided by the co-accused and approver in the case.
After recording the submissions of the accused - Jacob, Selvaraj, Nagalingam, Alexander, Martin, Oswalt and Kanagasabai - the judge sentenced them to different terms of imprisonment for convictions under different provisions of IPC. However, he ordered that the sentences shall run concurrently for three years.