Madurai Police seized Maragatha lingam worth Rs.20 Crores

Chennai, Oct 7: Madurai Police have seized a green colored lingam worth Rs.20 crores, weighing about 7 kg, from a car following an accident on the Tiruchi Madurai National Highway near Viralimalai on Friday.

Though there was speculation that it could be an emerald (maragatha) lingam, the police said experts would be called to examine it and find out whether it was made of any precious stone.

Four persons were travelling in the car from Madurai to Chennai when the vehicle collided with a bus.

The front portion of the car was badly damaged. The police identified the occupants of the car as M. Thanga Mariyappan, 53, of Tuticorin, M. Ashoka Chakkaravarthi, 60, of Madurai, K. Murugan, 45, of Theni, and the vehicle driver T. Kasi, 27, of Madurai.

The four sustained head injuries and were admitted to a private hospital in Tiruchi. While checking the vehicle, the police found the 'lingam', weighing 7.130 kg and about 19 cm in height worth above 20 crores.

It was taken to the Viralimalai police station. It was not clear how the occupants of the car came into possession of the lingam.