Vijayanagara-era Idols Seized, 4 Arrested in Smuggling Bid

• Tamil Nadu Idol Wing CID arrested four persons and seized two ancient metal idols from the 14th-15th century Vijayanagara period.
• The idols, a Sudharsanar (Vishnu) and a Devi, were recovered during a vehicle check on the Thanjavur-Chennai National Highway.
• The seizure followed specific intelligence, leading to the interception of a car in Valayapettai.
• Preliminary assessment suggests the idols are rare Vijayanagara-era artifacts, suspected to be stolen from a temple.
• The accused planned to smuggle the idols abroad for a high price; all four have been remanded to judicial custody.