In a major restitution effort, the United States has returned 657 stolen artefacts to India, valued at around Rs 120 crore, marking one of the largest recoveries of smuggled cultural objects in recent
years.
The artefacts were handed over by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in New York in the presence of Indian Consul General Binaya Pradhan and District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Officials said the items had been smuggled out of India over several years by an international trafficking network led by Subhash Kapoor and his associates. The group allegedly used forged documents to move the artefacts across borders and sell them in global auctions.
Among the returned items are several high-value pieces.
One of the most significant is a bronze statue of Avalokiteshvara, estimated to be worth Rs 16-17 crore (USD 2 million). The statue was stolen in 1982 from a museum in Raipur.
Another major piece is a red sandstone statue of Lord Buddha, valued at around Rs 63 crore. Both artefacts are considered important examples of India’s cultural and religious heritage.
The recovered collection also includes a “dancing Ganesha” idol that was stolen in 2000 from a temple in Madhya Pradesh. The statue was later traced to an auction attempt in New York in 2012 before being identified and recovered.
Investigations by US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Antiquities Trafficking Unit (ATU) helped track down the stolen objects and dismantle parts of the smuggling network.
Officials described the return as more than just the recovery of artefacts.
Authorities said the operation represented a significant step in countering international art trafficking and highlighted efforts to restore cultural heritage to its country of origin.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed happiness over the return, with officials calling it an important moment for India’s cultural preservation.
The artefacts, many of which had been missing for decades, are now set to be restored to India, bringing back pieces of history that had been removed from temples, museums and archaeological sites.
