Balasore: Nilgiri police extracted some vital clues from an accused, involved in the idol theft case, during remand interrogation.

The police arrested Suresh Yadav, 50, of Dwarakapuri in Etah district of Uttar Pradesh on January 19. He was taken on remand for three days from Sunday.

During interrogation, the police learnt that a man hailing from Nimapara under Puri district was the kingpin of the idol theft racket. However, the police did not reveal his identity as this would hamper their investigation.

Although the idol Vajra Vairahi stolen from a temple in Ayodhya was not recovered yet, the police suspect that it has not yet been disposed of.

"The prime accused had supplied all information to the members of the racket about the location of idols and antiques in Odisha. He and three others of the racket are at large," said Nilgiri police station inspector-in-charge Ramesh Singh.

"The racketeers were in contact with some prospective customers to sell the idol. However, they couldn't sell it yet. They have hidden it somewhere," he said. Last year, on December 26, the goons decamped with the black granite idol, Vajra Vairahi.