more-in A court in Kumbakonam on Friday remanded in judicial custody the suspended DSP Khader Basha, arrested in connection with the theft of ancient idols from a smuggler. Police sources, who took custody of Basha for interrogation, indicated that the arrested officer did not cooperate with the investigating agencies in the past five days. A questionnaire containing 62 queries was presented to him but he evaded direct replies to all of them. After completing the formalities, the investigation team produced Basha before the Second Additional Judicial Magistrate who remanded him in judicial custody till October 6. Accused of selling idols Basha, along with another suspended special sub-inspector Subburaj, had secured six ancient idols from a smuggler Arockiaraj at Ooranipuram in Virudhunagar district in 2008. Instead of depositing the recovered idols in the court, the two police officials had allegedly sold them to other smugglers. The matter came to light only when Arockiaraj made bold to refer a complaint with Inspector-General of Police, Idol Wing, A.G. Pon Manickavel, who then launched a spirited investigation and secured the two tainted officials. With the number of investigating officials expected to cross the 100 mark, investigations into the cases would pick up fast, the sources said.

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