Cops seize ancient idols of Theerthankaras, nab 3

Kundapur police on Sunday arrested three persons and taken a couple into custody on charges of illegal sale of ancient bronze idols of Jain Theerthankaras.

Acting on a tip-off, the police reached the backyard of Kotilingeshwara temple at Koteshwara, where three men were sitting in a car and one man and woman speaking at a distance. On seeing the police, the three men tried to flee the spot, but were nabbed. The couple too were taken into custody.

When inquired, one of the three men, Nevil Wilfy Mascarenhas (36) from Mangaluru, handed over four metal statues, in his possession, to the police. The other accused are Anil Furtado, aged 34 years from Shivamogga and Ashton Sequeira, aged 28 years from Mangaluru. Ashton is the district secretary of NSUI, the student wing of the Congress. They admitted that they had brought the idols to sell illegally. However, they did not divulge any information about the idols and whom they belong to.

The couple are John and Anila from Kasba village in Kundapur.

On reaching the police station, the police called the expert and confirmed that the idols were of four Theerthankaras and were too ancient to be valued.

Nevil had a currency counting machine with him and Rs 46,060 in cash. Police have seized all the cash and the car used for the crime.

A case has been registered in Kundapur police station.