Hyderabad: The police nabbed a man for trying to sell an antique panchaloha idol of Lord Mahaveer near the PVNR Flyover in Langer Houz on Thursday. The idol worth Rs 50 lakh in the international market was seized from him.
The accused, Mukaddis Hussain alias Mukaddis, 24, is a glass fitting worker, and is a resident of Old Alwal. He belongs to the Etha district of UP. Another suspect named Gyan Singh alias Sunil, a native of Madhya Pradesh, is absconding.
Task force DCP B. Limba Reddy said that Mukaddis Hussian used to do glass work and had come to Hyderabad seven years ago. He took up glass cutting and fitting work here and got acquainted with one Gyan Singh. As both were facing financial problems they decided to turn to crime. “Two months ago, Gyan Singh procured an antique idol of Lord Mahaveer made of panchaloha from his native place and showed it to Mukaddis Hussain. Both plotted to cheat gullible customers and sell the idol for about Rs 50 lakh,” the DCP said.
While Hussain was waiting for customers at Sana Hotel in Langer Houz the police nabbed him and seized the idol. Officials said the idol’s antiquity and material is yet to be ascertained. The accused and the idol were handed over to the Langer Houz police.
