Thrissur, August 23, 2013: Five people were arrested from Erode on Thursday in connection with the theft of a panchaloha idol. The idol of Vishnu Maya, worth Rs.6.45 crore, which went missing from the Padiyath family temple on October 25, 2011, was recovered from them. It is a 200-year-old idol.

The arrested have been identified as Biju, 36, the main accused, Dileep, 35, Unni, 32, Viju, 33, and Unnikrishnan, 30. The accused were trying to sell the idol, which was kept at their house. The police had arrested three persons earlier in this case.

Source: The Hindu, August 23, 2013