Judicial magistrate R. Rajkumar here on Wednesday granted permission to police to take international antique dealer and suspected kingpin of idol smuggling racket Subash Chandra Kapoor into seven day custody till July 24 for further interrogation.
The magistrate also directed the police to produce Mr Kapoor back in the court on July 24 evening.
Mr Kapoor who was lodged at Puzhal prison after being arrested in connection with two cases related to theft of idols from two temples in Ariyalur district was produced before the judicial magistrate in Ariyalur.
The two cases relate to theft of idols from Brahadeeswara Temple, Sripurandan, 35 km from Ariyalur, in Vikramangalam police limits on March 21, 2008 and the other case relates to the theft of another set of idols, including three panchaloha ones, from Varadarajaperumal Temple, Suthamalli, 22 km from Ariyalur in Udayarpalayam police limits.
In the first case, 12 persons were cited as accused and in the second seven. In both cases, Kapoor is cited as the last accused. All other accused in the both cases have already been enlarged on bail.
On Monday, police had moved an application in the court seeking 10 days' custody for questioning Mr Kapoor. Besides, two more applications seeking bail for Kapoor and admitting him to government hospital had also been filed by the counsel for Mr Kapoor.
When Kapoor was produced before the judicial magistrate court on Wednesday, the magistrate dismissed the two applications , including the bail application, moved by Mr Kapoor.
Disposing the petition moved by police, the magistrate ordered granting seven days' police custody of Mr Kapoor till July 24.