CHENNAI: Police on Friday arrested two men for trying to sell a petromax light for Rs 2 crore, calling it a 400-year-old antique. K Anbalagan, 59, and R Palanisamy, 50, both hailing from Vridhachalam in Cuddalore district, claimed that the that the light was manufactured by the East India Company in 1600.

Police are now checking with officials of the archaeology department and the forensic wing on the authenticity of the seized light.

Anbalagan and Palanisamy were caught when they tried to sell the light to two policemen who posed as buyers. They claimed the light was made of an alloy of iridium that is used in the manufacture of satellites.

They also said that the light had special powers and to prove their claim, they sprinkled some rice around it. When the grains of rice were drawn towards the light, the two men said their claim had been proved.

However, the 'buyers' were not convinced and hauled Anbalagan and Palanisamy in.

The scientific answer for the 'rice pulling' claim is that the grains, which have hydrocarbons, are drawn by the light. The gang members told police that the antique light had developed its rice-pulling power over the years.

They claimed that it was valued at more than 50 crore in the international market.

On May 12, 2014, the Kerala police had arrested in Kollam five people for attempting to sell a similar petromax light.

This is the third incident reported in Tamil Nadu. In 2013, organized crime intelligence unit ( OCIU ) of police had arrested 10 people in Kumbakonam and five in Salem for trying to sell similar lights.

Police have sent the light seized on Friday for chemical testing to confirm whether it contains iridium.

There appears to be a big market for antique metalware with 'rice-pulling' power. Members of a gang with a network spread across the country seem to be involved in the racket.

Narrating the secret behind the rice pulling technique, an officer said, the gang employ this trick by first half-boiling rice. Then minute iron shavings are embedded into the rice which would then be sun dried. It then looks like fresh rice grains. At the same time, the metal ware would also magnetized by mixing. It would then easily attract the rice the gang would carry for demonstrations.

But the test would fail if rice was sourced from outside. The gang gave an explanation for this too saying that rice purchased from shops was treated with chemicals and therefore it would fail the test. For the test, organic rice de-husked at home was needed. Police officers also doubted that the petromax was originally manufactured by East India Company.

