Mangalore: Six held while trying to sell idols

Six persons have been arrested by the police while trying to sell idols of Lord Srinivasa and Padmavathi estimated to cost over Rs 5 lakh in Udupi, police said.

The accused were identified as Mahadev Naik, Eshwar Reddy, Sadashiv Gowda, Shekar Mendon, Venkataramana Jattappa Naik and Basavaraj S Hanagodimath belonging to the two southern districts of the state, police said.

They were reportedly trying to sell the idols when the police team based on a tip off arrested them from a private lodge and seized the idols.

The accused revealed that the idols were brought from Shimoga and they were acting as middlemen, police said.

Investigations are on to determine the correct value of the idols made of bronze and to ascertain whether they are antique idols.