Patna, Dec. 3: A team of officers from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today visited Jamui and inquired about the theft of Lord Mahavir's priceless idol.
The visit of the team followed the state government's recommendation for a probe by the premier investigation agency.
Deputy inspector-general (DIG) (Munger range) S.K. Shukla said a CBI team, headed by a DIG-rank officer, Navin Singh, held a meeting with the police officers of Jamui and inquired about the progress in the case related to the theft of the 2,600-year-old idol from a Jain temple.
The CBI officers also visited the spot and quizzed the chief priest-cum-manager of the temple, Maheshwar Mishra. The DIG, however, clarified that the CBI had not yet taken over the investigation of the case formally.
"The members of the team conducted preliminary inquiry," Shukla told The Telegraph over the phone.
A source in the police headquarters said the CBI officers were provided the call detail record of the cellphones, which were active in the particular area at the time of the incident last Friday night. "The analysis of the call detail record would provide vital clues in the case," the source said.
Bhagalpur zonal inspector-general Bachchu Singh Meena said the district police officers have detained six suspects for interrogation. They were picked up during raids carried out in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of police stations of Nalanda and Nawada districts, he added. An investigating officer said one Rajak was on the radar of the special police team (SIT) formed to crack the case.
"The gang leader is absconding after the incident. The gang has stolen several idols from Jamui, Nalanda and Nawada districts in the past," added the officer.
The touchstone statue of the Mahavir, the 24th tirthankar of the Jains, was under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India.
Jamui MP Chirag Paswan had earlier met Union home minister Rajnath Singh and sought expeditious recovery of the valuable idol, which is highly revered by Jain devotees across the world.
