Chennai: Apprehending arrest in connection with the recent seizure of antiques and idols, industrialists Ranvir R.Shah and Kiran Rao have approached the Madras high court, seeking anticipatory bail.
A division bench comprising Justices R.Mahadevan and P.D.Audikesavalu, before whom the anticipatory bail petitions filed by Ranvir Shah and Kiran Rao came up for hearing, directed the petitioners to produce the copies of the certificates obtained by them for possessing the idols and posted to October 11, further hearing of the petitions.
In his petition, Ranvir Shah submitted that he was an ardent collector and admirer of antiques since his young age. The idols were bought on payment made by cheques only.
He has nothing to do with the alleged offence. When the police visited his house earlier on July 12, 2016 he had provided photo copies of transfer of ownerships certificates of Antiquities for 40 statues to them, he added.
He said he had obtained transfer certificate of ownerships of antiquities for several antiquities in 2014 from the India Government. He has also obtained certificate of registration of antiquities from ASI of Chennai and Tiruchirapalli. He has valid documents and proof for almost all the art and artefacts which were in his possession.
He was questioned about the possession of the idols and an explanation was given with documents to the police to prove the genuine purchase and the permission obtained from the ASI, he added. On similar grounds, Kiran Rao also filed a petition, seeking anticipatory bail.
