Six held in Hyderabad for selling fake idol, stone

Hyderabad police on Saturday arrested six people for trying to sell a fake Panchaloha idol of goddess Lakshmi and a stone at a high price by claiming they bring good fortune. The arrests were made in Laxmiguda, Katedan, after the group allegedly gathered there to find buyers.

The accused include drivers P Narsimha (45), Kethavath Raju (38), Vadathya Kumar (34), and Praveen Singh (34), labourer Mangali Basava Naresh (38), and astrologer Challa Ravi (38). According to siasat.com, Narsimha was allegedly tricked by Ravi and others into buying the fake idol for Rs 10 lakh in 2024. The group then formed to sell the idol and a stone that Raju claimed he had purchased from a man in Hussaini Alam.

Police seized the idol, a pink stone, one car, five cellphones, two red towels, and three bottles of an unknown liquid from the accused. The six have been charged and will be produced in court.