Nellore, August 25, 2013: A panchaloha idol of Chennakesava Swamy, stolen from the Leguntapadu Devasthanam in Kovur area, was recovered and four persons arrested in this connection by the Nellore police on Saturday.

The temple robbery was committed way back in November, 2012, but the gangsters later sold it away to some residents of Nellore city at Rs.1 lakh saying that the idol would fetch Rs.50 lakh in the international market.

The arrested persons were identified as Sk. Mahbub Basha, Ch. Venugopal and K. Venkataramanaiah who belong to Nellore and M. Kishore, a resident of Kovur.

They were also charged with eliminating an old offender and inter-district gangster M. Edukondalu, who belongs to Bogolu in Nellore district.

The police said that Edukondalu was killed as he threatened to give information to the police about the panchaloha idol being in possession of the above accused.

The old offender was allegedly taken to a room and he was eliminated on February 10 this year and the body thrown into the Sarvepalli canal. A missing case was also registered in the 4th Town police station in the city.

Source: The Hindu, August 25, 2013