Alerted about a 900-year-old idol of Lord Nataraja, said to have been smuggled abroad and bought by an art gallery for a princely sum, Tamil Nadu police today sought information from public as well as officials to help them trace it.
Releasing a picture of the idol, police announced a cash reward of Rs 25,000 to anyone providing basic details such as ownership about the antique item, to help them bring it back.
As per a "reliable" tip-off received by police, the idol of Nataraja or dancing Shiva had been stolen from a temple in the state and smuggled abroad and presently bought by an art gallery "in a foreign country".
It belonged to the later Chola period, and is 900 years old, DIG, Idol Wing CID, A G Ponmanickavel said here in a press release.
The correct details about the idol's ownership, which obviously belongs to a temple in Tamil Nadu, are, however, not known.
"The CID (Idol Wing) immediately needs information pertaining to the idol," he said.
The police announcement comes a day after Australian Prime Minsiter Tony Abbott handed over to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi two antique statues of Hindu deities stolen from temples in the state before being bought by art galleries in his country.
The DIG said the idol could belong to a temple under the control of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department of the state government or private trusts or mutts and might have been stolen.
There were possibilities of custodians of the idol having forgone to lodge a formal complaint. Also, police authorities might not have registered an FIR, he said.
General public, officials or employees of HR and CE or anybody who could provide information about the idol will be given a cash award of Rs 25,000. Secrecy will be maintained about the informers, the top police official said.
He also assured no action would be taken against officials for delayed reporting about the theft of the idol.
"Whatever may be the case, no one need to fear action against them for not apprising authorities about the theft of the ancient idol," he said.
He pointed to the repatriation of the two idols from Australia saying, in this case too concerned HR and CE officials had not informed police about the theft for 11 years but no action had been taken against them.
Details about the idol can be forwarded at phone numbers 9840584729, 044-26220332, 044-26220310, the headquarters of Idol Wing CID.
