The accused were identified as Mahadev Naik, Eshwar Reddy, Sadashiv Gowda, Shekar Mendon, Venkataramana Jattappa Naik and Basavaraj S Hanagodimath belonging to the two southern districts of the state, police said.
They were reportedly trying to sell the idols when the police team based on a tip off arrested them from a private lodge and seized the idols.
The accused revealed that the idols were brought from Shimoga and they were acting as middlemen, police said.