The ancient idol was stolen on Friday from a temple in Lachuar village in Jamui, the birthplace of the Jain saint.
A 2,600-year-old idol of Lord Mahavir, stolen from a Jain temple eight days ago, was recovered near Bichhway village in Bihar's Jammui district today.
The idol that weighs over 250 kilograms and is worth several crore rupees, was recovered from a ditch along the Jammui-Sikandara Highway this morning, Superintendent of Police Jayant Kant said.
The recovery was made following interrogation of five arrested persons, he said. The highway is 20 kilometers from the village from where the idol was stolen.
Since the idol was stolen, over Rs 27 lakh has been collected as donations to the temple for 'Maha Arati of Lord Mahavir'. The authorities have already increased the security and Special Auxiliary Policemen or SAP jawans have been given the charge.
ADG (headquarters) Sunil Kumar said the investigation is on in the theft case to seek details of the gangs involved in stealing of valuable idols.
The black stone idol at the temple, which is under the protection of Archaeological Survey of India, at Lachuar village in the same district was stolen on November 27 last.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who had earlier assured Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh of its recovery and later recommended a CBI inquiry into the theft, said the state police located the idol before the central agency could take up the case.