New York Museum Return Indian Sculpture: The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA got information about smuggling of Indian sculptures. After this, the museum has announced to return 15 idols to India. Said in a press release that all these idols were sold by Indian-American smuggler Subhash Kapoor.
Indian-American smuggler Subhash Kapoor was arrested by Interpol in Germany in 2011. Presently Subhash Kapoor is imprisoned in India. According to media reports, the stolen idols are made of sandstone from Madhya Pradesh. All these sculptures date from the 1st century BC to the 11th century.
The price of the existing market is 8 crores
The memory of Apsara is engraved on the sandstone. Its current market value is more than $1 million (8 crores). The smuggled idols include idols made of terracotta, copper and stone. Apart from this, Chinese pottery of Chandraketugarh period is included in the smuggled items.
In these there is a stone statue from 8th century to 2nd century. There is a Svetambara Jina in it, who is seated on a throne. During the year 2019 in Manhattan, art dealer was accused of stealing sculptures and keeping them for 30 years. And Subhash Kapoor was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Tamil Nadu court in November 2022.
India has returned 307 archaeological items
Homeland Security was contacted in the year 2015 regarding Subhash Kapoor’s works. After this, the Manhattan District Attorney helped in the criminal investigation of Subhash Kapoor. The museum said they would follow up on the purchase of the antiquities responsibly.
He sets strict standards for new acquisitions and for its existing collection. While currently investigating the details of works received from suspected dealers. The note states that it is happy to honor its long association with the Government of India.
America had returned 307 archaeological items to India in October 2022, worth about $4 million (32 crores).
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