Indian Antiquities stolen and sold in Foreign Countries
Total 101 Antiquities have been stolen from Centrally Protected Monument since 2000. Central Bureau of Investigation has registered one case in connection with Indian antiquities stolen and sold in foreign countries from 2000 to 2016. Further, as per information received from Idol Wing of Tamil Nadu Police, 48 objects have been stolen from various temple in the State which are not in protection of Archaeological Survey of India. As per the records available, seven number of antiquities surfaced in foreign countries.
As per information received from Consulate General of India, New York, there are 712 art objects seized by US Immigration and Customs Information including objects of Indian origin.
Whenever any stolen object is surfaced in foreign country, the process of retrieval of the same is taken up through our Missions abroad. Consulate General of India, New York has already taken up the matter with US Immigration and Customs Information.
Economic Offences Unit-VI of Central Bureau of Investigation deals with offences related to antiquity. Government of Tamil Nadu has also set up Idol Wing –CID for the purpose.
Ministry of Culture has set up National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities, for documentation of built heritage and antiquities. Till date 15 Lakhs artifacts/antiquities have been documented.
This information was given by Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (Independent Charge) and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Dr. Mahesh Sharma in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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Sanjay Kumar/jk/Culture-RS-4/09.03.2016