Lucknow, Oct 4 : Lucknow Police have seized an antique idol of Lord Buddha worth 1.2 million dollars in the international market.

Police also arrested Om Prakash Singh, who was carrying the antique idol.

The value of the idol was ascertained after officials got it examined by antique experts.

"We got the idol examined by an antique specialist and experts in the market and found it to be an antique. The idol weighs around 4.75 kilograms and it is valued at approximately Rs 408 million," said Kalyan Singh Jemar, Circle Officer.

Om Prakash Singh claimed that he was not aware of the value of the idol and was only carrying it for a third person.

"One person gave it to me and told me to take it to Langra Pathak area. I don't know the value. He said someone would come to take it," said Om Prakash Singh.

Unauthorised dealing in antiques is banned under the Antiquity and Art Treasure Act (AATA). This Act is enacted to regulate the export trade in antiquities and art treasures, to prevent smuggling of and fraudulent dealings in antiquities.

But people have been circumventing the law and India has become a hub of clandestine dealings in objects of art and most of the smuggled goods are finding their way in the West. (With inputs from ANI)