The Idol Smuggling Prevention Unit of the Tamil Nadu police conducted raids at the office of businessman Ranvir Shah in Guindy, Chennai. As reported by Dinamalar, the Idol Wing found five massive idols, including an elephant, Nandi, and a lion, at the office of Ranvir Shah during the raids. They have been taken for examination.
The raids were conducted in connection with an earlier idol smuggling case that goes back to 2016. In that year, the police had arrested a man named Deenadayalan from Chennai for his involvement in the smuggling of idols. The investigation into the case led the police to businessman Ranveer Shah, who was in contact with Deenadayalan.
சிலை கடத்தல் வழக்கில் தொடர்புடைய சென்னை தொழிலதிபர் அலுவலகத்தில் இருந்து 5 பழங்கால பிரம்மாண்ட சிலைகள் மீட்பு!#Chennai | #Statues | #StatueRecovery | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/4iUnRVHPvs
— Polimer News (@polimernews) August 29, 2026
The Idol Smuggling Prevention Unit, which was led by Pon Manickavel, investigated Shah and his associate Kiran Rao. OpIndia reported earlier how several attempts were made to undermine Manickavel.
Subsequently, in 2018, the Unit raided Shah’s farmhouses in Kanchipuram and Thanjavur districts and seized around 91 antiques, including metal statues, idols, pillars, arches, and stone carvings from his residence, valued at roughly ₹100 crore.
In a separate action in October 2018, investigators unearthed around 23 idols and statues at Rao’s Teynampet residence, some of which were reportedly buried in her backyard. The Unit is now preparing to file a charge sheet before the court against Ranvir Shah and Kiran Rao, since Deenadayalan is not alive.
The 2018 raids on Shah and Rao were part of a major crackdown led by Manickavel on idol smuggling. Following the action, Shah and Rao moved the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The High Court granted them anticipatory bail on a bond of ₹1 lakh each and on the condition of surrendering their passports and ensuring regular appearance in the Idol Wing office in Kumbakonam/Tiruchy as a condition of bail.
Both Ranvir Shah and Kiran Rao have businesses. In 2002, Rao launched the Amethyst Cafe on Whites Road, Royapettah in Chennai. She also has business partnerships with the Chamiers Cafe and Bhandej and the Amrapalli Gold and Silver boutique in Nungambakkam. Ranvir Shah is a businessman who founded the Prakriti Foundation.
