The police arrested a man on charges of stealing a Panchaloha Vinayagar idol worth ₹1 lakh from a temple located inside a private shop in the Flower Bazaar area in Chennai.
Police said Thiyagarajan, 51, works as a manager at the private establishment, inside which a temple was situated, where one Nithiyanandam worked as a priest.
On February 2, when the priest visited the temple in the afternoon, he found a Panchaloha Vinayagar idol, valued at ₹1 lakh, missing. Following this Mr. Thiyagarajan lodged a complaint with the Flower Bazaar police.
Following investigations, the police arrested Madhivanan, 55, of Kundrathur in Kancheepuram district in connection with the theft.
During questioning, police found Madhivanan had been working as a security guard at the shop and had sold the stolen idol to a scrap metal shop. The stolen Vinayagar idol was subsequently recovered from the scrap shop, police said.
Published – February 13, 2026 08:51 pm IST
