US Returns Over 200 Cultural Artefacts Worth $100 Million to India

Washington: The United States has started the repatriation process for several Indian antiques as a sign of goodwill. Over 200 cultural artefacts estimated at $100 million were returned to India at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington.

Items returned included religious statues, bronzes and terra cotta pieces, some dating back 2,000 years, looted from some of India's most treasured religious sites.

Among the pieces returned is a statue of Saint Manikkavichavakar, a Hindu mystic and poet from the Chola period (circa 850 AD to 1250 AD) stolen from the Sivan Temple in Chennai, which is valued at $1.5 million. Also included in the collection is a bronze sculpture of the Hindu god Ganesh estimated to be 1,000-year-old.

"I am grateful to US President Barack Obama for returning to us very important part of India's culture. Usually it's the present that brings nations together, but sometimes its the heritage that brings two nations closer. Over the past two years, various countries have endeavoured to return India's stolen cultural heritage. When we look at these artefacts we realise how much our ancestors had mastered the science and art," Modi said.

The artefacts that speak to India's astounding history and beautiful culture are beginning their journey home, US Attorney General Loretta E Lynch said.

"It is my hope and the hope of the American people that this repatriation will serve as a sign of our great respect for India's culture; our deep admiration for its people; and our sincere appreciation for the ties between our nations," she said.

"Protecting the cultural heritage of our global community is important work and we are committed to identifying and returning these priceless items to their countries of origin and rightful owners," said Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said in a statement.

"It's the responsibility of law enforcement worldwide to ensure criminal smuggling organisations do not profit from the theft of these culturally and historically valuable items," he said.

Even as the US has reached out to India returning the valuable antiques, the MEA ignored questions on retrieving the Kohinoor diamond which is part of the British royal jewels.

"Many countries have returned artefacts before. France had returned a statue once. Even German Chancellor Angela Merkel had returned another statue during one of her visits. So the law enforcement enquiry has started to know the details of how those artefacts left the country," the MEA said.

The majority of the pieces repatriated in the ceremony were seized during Operation Hidden Idol, an investigation that began in 2007 after Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) special agents received a tip about a shipment of seven crates destined for the US manifested as "marble garden table sets".

Examination of the shipment in question revealed numerous antiquities. This shipment was imported by Subhash Kapoor, owner of Art of the Past Gallery, who awaits trial in India.

HSI's Operation Hidden Idol focused on the activities of former New York-based art dealer Kapoor, currently in custody in India awaiting trial for allegedly looting tens of millions of dollars worth of rare antiquities from several nations, a media release said.

Artefacts were also found in the Honolulu Museum and Peabody Essex, who promptly partnered with HSI to surrender illicit cultural property stemming from Kapoor.

HSI special agents have executed a series of search warrants targeting Kapoor's New York City gallery, along with warehouses and storage facilities linked to the dealer.

Additionally, five individuals have been arrested in the US for their role in the scheme, a media release said.

(With additional information from PTI)