The trial court has been directed to conduct a day-to-day hearing of the case
Madras High Court
Chennai: The Madras high court has dismissed the fourth bail plea of Subhash Kapoor, the alleged kingpin of a international artifacts and idol smuggling network.
Further, the trial court has been directed to conduct a day-to-day hearing of the case.
Dismissing the plea, Justice S. Vaidyanathan said: “The petitioner was detained after great difficulty and he being a foreign national, is answerable for the idols which are kept in his possession. He may have indulged in illegal activities not only in India but also in various countries and the department of home land security of USA has also initiated action against him."
The judge further said "The case is at the trial stage and if the petitioner is enlarged on bail, it would certainly result in prolongation of trial as there is every likelihood of his fleeing from the clutches of law and there is every possibility of tampering the evidence and witnesses."
He directed the trial court to conduct trial on day-to-day basis after framing charges. He ordered that the matter should not be adjourned to more than a week at any point of time.
Two cases are pending against Kapoor - a 2008 case filed by Udayarpalayam police and the other by Vikramangalam police, Ariyalur district for theft of antique idols from Arulmighu Varadaraja Perumal Temple, Suthamalli village and Arulmighu Brihadeeswarar temple at Sripurandan. He allegedly smuggled the idols, dating back to the 11th and 12th century Chola period, to USA and earned huge sum by selling them.
He remained elusive for many years despite a nationwide search by Tamil Nadu police and a subsequent red-alert issued by Interpol against him. He was finally arrested on October 30, 2011 by German police at Frankfurt airport and extradited to India on July 14, 2012.
Kapoor and others were accused of stealing and smuggling 28 idols including Lord Nataraja weighing 100 kg, Sri Sivagami Ammal, Sri Sambandar, Lord Vinayaka, Somaskandar, Manickavasakar and Chandrasekarar.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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