Mangaluru: District secretary of NSUI, student wing of the Congress and four others have been arrested by Udupi District police for allegedly trying to sell antique bronze idols of Jain Tirthankara near Kotalingeshwara Temple in Kundapura, in Udupi, on Saturday.

Police have seized idols, a car, cash and cellphones from them.

According to police, the value of the seized idols may run up to several crores of Rupees. However, the actual value of the bronze idols will be appraised by officials of the Archaeological Survey of India, said police.

The arrested people have been identified as Nevill Wilfy Mascarenhas, 36, from Padil, Mangaluru, Anil Furtado, 34, resident of Talaguppa in Shivamogga district, and Ashton Sequeira, 28, resident of Kulshekar, Mangaluru, John, 57 and his wife Anila, 45, resident of Church Road in Kundapur.

Police said that Ashton, who also runs a homestay in Vamanjoor, is the district secretary of National Students’ Union of India, Dakshina Kannada.

Acting on a tip-off that some persons were trying to sell ancient idols, police personnel headed by PSI Harish R, reached near Kotalingeshwara Temple. Police noticed that some people were conversing inside a silver colour car, while a couple stood outside few metres away. When police raided, the trio in car and couple tried to run away but were arrested.

During the investigation, they found four bronze idols hid in the car seats. When police asked about how they got it, they failed to answer convincingly and they were arrested. Police also arrested John and his wife even though they told the police they were not connected to the issue.

Police added that a goldsmith confirmed that idols were made of bronze and have antique value which cannot be estimated.

During interrogation, Ashton Sequeira, who claimed that idols belonged to him and he found them while clearing a well to construct swimming pool at his property, police said adding that investigation is on whom they were going to sell it.

Police have seized around Rs 60,000 cash from trio, a bill counter, a car, several cellphones and documents.